Secret Service policy gaps exposed in drone threat report
A government report reveals the Secret Service often failed to update protection policies after drone incidents, missing chances to address emerging threats before the 2024 Trump assassination attempt.
A new government report has found that the U.S. Secret Service repeatedly failed to update its protection policies after drone-related security incidents, missing opportunities to address a threat that later materialized in an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The report, released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), reviewed security incidents between 2015 and 2025. During that period, the agency handled 83 incidents but updated its policies in response to only 25 of them. In several cases, the Secret Service did not document why it chose not to revise its procedures.
Among the incidents cited were a drone that made contact with President Barack Obama's motorcade in 2015 and another that flew about 200 feet above a rally for then-candidate Bernie Sanders. The GAO said these cases were a "compelling example" of missed opportunities to learn from emerging threats.
The report noted that some of the missing information was relevant to subsequent attacks. In the July 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania, rally shooting, the gunman flew a drone over the crowd for 11 minutes, using the footage to position himself for a clear shot at Trump.
The report also found that the Secret Service failed to update eight of 22 protection policies within the required four-year timeframe. A memorandum of understanding with the Diplomatic Security Service, which outlines responsibilities for overseas presidential security, has not been updated since 1991 despite a required annual review. As a result, the document does not address newer threats like drones.
GAO acting director Nathan Tranquilli said the Secret Service's mission is a "zero fail" one, but that delays occurred when decisions were made about where to allocate time and energy.
The report recommends three fixes, including requiring the Secret Service to document its rationale when it decides not to update a policy after a security incident. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, has agreed with the recommendations and plans to implement changes.