Secret Service Suspends Multiple Agents After Pennsylvania Rally Shooting
Six agents with the United States Secret Service have been suspended without pay or benefits following last summer’s attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, according to federal officials.
The disciplinary action stems from a security breakdown at a July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, where a gunman was able to open fire from an elevated position overlooking the event. One attendee was killed, several others were wounded, and Trump narrowly escaped serious injury.
Internal Discipline Following Major Security Breach
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn confirmed the suspensions in an interview with CBS News, explaining that the agency opted for discipline rather than termination while it works to correct deeper institutional failures.
“We’re not going to fire our way out of this,” Quinn said, adding that the agency is focused on identifying and fixing the underlying causes of the failure.
According to Quinn, the six agents received penalties ranging from 10 to 42 days of unpaid suspension. Upon returning, they were reassigned to limited duties with reduced responsibilities. He emphasized that the actions were carried out under a federally mandated disciplinary process.
What Happened in Butler
During the rally, gunman Thomas Crooks managed to gain access to a rooftop location with a direct line of sight to the stage. He fired multiple shots before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The attack killed Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter who attended the rally with his family. Trump was struck by a bullet that grazed his ear, and two other men were seriously injured.
The incident triggered immediate scrutiny of the Secret Service’s protective planning, particularly regarding perimeter control, surveillance of elevated structures, and coordination with local law enforcement.
Agency Admits Failure
Quinn did not minimize the scope of the breakdown, describing the Butler rally as a clear operational failure.
“The Secret Service is fully accountable for what happened in Butler,” he said. “It was an operational failure, and our mission now is to make sure it never happens again.”
He added that investigators are concentrating on “root cause” analysis, including leadership decisions, training practices, and communication gaps that contributed to the breach.
Changes Implemented After the Attack
In the months following the rally, the Secret Service introduced several operational upgrades. These include expanded use of military-grade surveillance drones, mobile command centers, and improved radio interoperability with state and local police departments.
Officials say the new equipment is intended to strengthen situational awareness and prevent similar lapses during large public events.
However, critics have argued that technological upgrades alone cannot compensate for deficiencies in planning, leadership, and inter-agency coordination.
Further Scrutiny After Second Incident
The Butler shooting was not the only incident to raise concerns. Weeks later, Trump was the target of another attempted attack in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although that attempt was stopped before shots were fired, it intensified scrutiny of the agency.
Following the Florida incident, then–Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned. The agency subsequently became the subject of multiple congressional hearings and internal investigations.
Congressional Report: “Preventable”
In December 2024, a bipartisan House task force released a 180-page report concluding that the Butler shooting was preventable.
The report cited long-standing leadership and training deficiencies, along with inadequate coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies. Lawmakers said these failures created conditions that allowed the gunman to exploit gaps in security.
The report further noted that similar concerns had been raised in prior internal reviews but were not adequately addressed.
Ongoing Questions
While the suspensions represent the most concrete disciplinary action to date, questions remain about whether the reforms will be sufficient as Trump continues to campaign amid heightened political tensions.
Security experts have warned that large outdoor rallies pose increasing risks and require more rigorous advance planning, particularly when high-profile political figures are involved.
For now, the Butler incident stands as one of the most serious protective failures in recent Secret Service history—and a reminder of the high stakes involved when security systems falter.