WASHINGTON – An independent review, released on Thursday, has found that the Secret Service had become bureaucratic and complacent, suggesting that substantial changes are necessary following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

Trump, who is running for president as a Republican, was shot in the ear on July 13 while attending a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bystander was killed during the incident, and a Secret Service sniper subsequently shot the attacker.

The Secret Service admitted it fell short in its duty to protect Trump, with Acting Director Ronald Rowe promising reforms. Additionally, a Senate report criticized the agency’s performance.

The independent assessment was initiated by President Joe Biden’s administration and pointed out several areas for improvement for the Secret Service.

The report indicated, “The Secret Service has grown bureaucratic, complacent, and stagnant even though threats have increased and technology has progressed.” It warned that unless reforms are made, similar incidents could reoccur.

The bipartisan panel, formed by the Department of Homeland Security, comprised significant figures such as Janet Napolitano, a former secretary of the department; Frances Townsend, a former homeland security advisor under George W. Bush; Mark Filip, a former federal judge; and David Mitchell, a past superintendent of Maryland state police and former public safety secretary in Delaware.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “We will thoroughly evaluate the panel’s suggestions and take the necessary steps to enhance the protection mission of the Secret Service.” He emphasized that these measures aim to tackle not only the problems identified before the shooting but also the “systemic and foundational issues” that contributed to those problems.

The panel carried out 58 interviews and analyzed over 7,000 documents during its review.

The report concluded that “The Secret Service should be the premier governmental protective agency worldwide.” It stated that the events in Butler on July 13 indicate that its current status falls short of this standard.

Among the panel’s recommendations were the installation of aerial surveillance for outdoor events featuring presidential candidates, a detailed situation report for each event when a protected figure arrives, and the presence of at least one Secret Service officer with each local law enforcement body at the communication center for events.

The panel recommended that these improvements should be enacted by March 2025 and their effectiveness evaluated by October 2025.

The Secret Service’s own investigation into the shooting revealed that its agents were not communicating on the same radios as local law enforcement, which delayed warnings about a suspicious individual with a range finder. It was also found that an agent responsible for monitoring drones lacked the necessary equipment and expertise to oversee unmanned aircraft, including a drone flown at the site hours prior to the shooting.

Two months after the Pennsylvania shooting, a gunman was able to remain undetected for almost 12 hours at a Trump golf course in Florida before a Secret Service agent drove him away while Trump was playing golf. The assailant was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted assassination.

Before Trump returned to Butler for another rally, the Secret Service stated it had implemented “extensive changes and upgrades” to its communication systems, resource deployment, and protective operations. For instance, Trump is now safeguarded by bullet-resistant barriers at outdoor events, and agents work closely with local law enforcement during such gatherings.