A new report released by the U.S. Secret Service sheds light on the numerous communication and technical challenges faced by the agency during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where an attempt on former President Donald Trump's life was made. The report highlighted shortcomings in securing the line of sight to the former president and failures in communicating the threat to all personnel involved. The agency admitted to not securing the roof of the AGR building near the Butler Fair Grounds, where the incident occurred, and failing to coordinate with local law enforcement effectively.

U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe emphasized the importance of accountability for the failures that transpired on July 13, when the assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, targeted Trump. The report aimed at transparency, acknowledging the lapses that allowed Crooks to climb a neighboring building and fire at the former president. It outlined the absence of discussions regarding positioning a local sniper team on the AGR roof and deficiencies in constructing a secure perimeter.

The Secret Service is now looking to overhaul its protective operations in light of the incident, with Rowe highlighting the exigent threat environment in which the agency operates. The report also pointed out communication deficiencies among state and local law enforcement entities involved in securing the Butler rally. It detailed issues such as inadequate resource sharing, the use of disparate communications channels, and the failure to convey the Secret Service's protective requirements effectively.

Furthermore, the report mentioned that federal personnel at the scene were unaware of vital information relayed by local law enforcement regarding the assailant and lacked a comprehensive description of the threat. The breakdown in communication was exacerbated by the reliance on mobile devices for information dissemination instead of utilizing the Secret Service's radio network, which could have potentially averted the attack. Additionally, the failure to inform the Secret Service about a local agency providing support further hindered coordination efforts during the event.