Six Secret Service Agents Suspended Over Lapses in Trump Assassination Attempt

Six U.S. Secret Service agents have been disciplined, including suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days without pay, due to their roles in security lapses during the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Secret Service released this information in a statement on the one-year anniversary of the shooting, but declined to name the agents involved due to policy restrictions.

According to the Secret Service, the agents will not only face temporary suspensions but will also be reassigned to restricted or non-operational roles. While the agency did not specify the exact reasons for each individual’s disciplinary action, it described the assassination attempt as a significant "operational failure." The gunman had managed to access a nearby rooftop, from where he had a clear, direct line of sight to Trump as he addressed the crowd. A bystander was fatally shot, and Trump sustained an injury to his ear. Secret Service agents responded quickly and shot the attacker dead at the scene.

In a Fox News interview set to air Saturday, Donald Trump commented on the incident, saying there were clear mistakes and that an agent should have been stationed on the rooftop. “There were mistakes made. And that shouldn’t have happened,” Trump said.

The Secret Service acknowledged multiple contributing factors in the incident, including breakdowns in communication, technological shortcomings, and human error. The agency emphasized that the July 13 shooting serves as a reminder of the critical importance of its “zero-fail mission” and highlighted the need for ongoing improvements. Following the incident, congressional oversight bodies issued 46 recommendations, 21 of which have been implemented so far by the agency.

Sean Curran, the Secret Service Director and the person responsible for overseeing Trump’s security detail at the rally, stated that the agency has taken multiple steps to ensure that such an incident cannot happen again. The statement also revealed that the agency has implemented new security protocols, particularly focused on golf courses.

The need for enhanced security at golf courses arose after another assassination plot surfaced shortly after the Butler rally. In that case, a man named Ryan Routh allegedly plotted to kill Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course in Florida. Prosecutors revealed that Routh had planned the attack for weeks and was hiding in shrubbery with a rifle on September 15, 2024, when Trump was playing golf. A Secret Service agent noticed Routh before he could execute the plan, preventing another potentially deadly attack.

Routh is now facing trial and appeared in court on Thursday, where he told Judge Aileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida that he wants to dismiss his court-appointed federal public defenders and represent himself. He did not offer any explanation for his request. Judge Cannon has not yet ruled on the matter and said she would issue a written decision later. Routh’s trial is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2025.

The Secret Service remains under scrutiny as it works to restore trust and reinforce its mission of ensuring the safety of U.S. leaders.