WASHINGTON –– A year ago Sunday, then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was struck by a bullet or bullet fragment to his ear while on stage at a campaign rally in Bulter, Pennsylvania. The 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had fired off eight shots in total with an AR-15 rifle from a rooftop roughly 150 yards away. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Secret Service said it has sought to streamline operations, improve partnerships with local and state authorities, clarify intelligence sharing, document line-of-sight concerns and mitigation measures and provide training for personnel assisting in protective missions, among other measures detailed in a report released Thursday

  • The federal law enforcement agency, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, cited breakdowns in communication, technological issues and human failure as some of the contributing factors to what it called an “operational failure” on July 13, 2024

  • The Secret Service said that it had suspended six unidentified employees without pay – each for between 10 and 42 days

  • The agency said that of the 46 recommendations made by congressional oversight bodies, it has implemented 21 reforms and 16 are in progress

In some 353 days since the attempted assassination, the Secret Service –– charged with protecting current and former presidents –– said it has sought to streamline operations, improve partnerships with local and state authorities, clarify intelligence sharing, document line-of-sight concerns and mitigation measures, and provide training for personnel assisting in protective missions, among other measures detailed in a report released Thursday.

The federal law enforcement agency, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, cited breakdowns in communication, technological issues and human failure as some of the contributing factors to what it called an “operational failure” that will serve as a reminder of the “critical importance of its zero-fail mission and the need for continuous improvement.”

As part of its own investigation into its handling of that day, the Secret Service suspended six unidentified employees without pay — each for between 10 and 42 days— according to the document.

The report did not include any reference to former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who stepped down less than two weeks after the attempt on Trump’s life amid growing calls for her resignation. 

After taking office, Trump appointed Sean Curran, who had been heading his protective detail in Butler, as Secret Service director. 

“One year ago, I was by President Trump’s side when a lone gunman attempted to assassinate him,” Curran said in a statement Thursday.

Curran, who helped a bloodied Trump off stage immediately after the shooting, said that his “heart” would always be with 50-year-old former fire Chief Corey Comperatore, who was fatally shot by the would-be assassin last year. Two other men — David Dutch and James Copenhaver — were also injured before Secret Service snipers killed Crooks.

“I have kept my experience on July 13 top of mind, and the agency has taken many steps to ensure such an event can never be repeated in the future,” Curran said in the statement. “Nothing is more important to the Secret Service than the safety and security of our protectees.”

The Secret Service said that of the 46 recommendations made by congressional oversight bodies, it has implemented 21 reforms and 16 are in progress. Among some of the items listed in the report as still in the works are efforts to improve the agency’s drone and counter-drone capabilities. However, a new Aviation Division has already been created to provide operational support, the document noted.

The report’s release comes days after an Iranian official reportedly warned that the president could be targeted by a small drone while sunbathing at Mar-a-Lago. 

“I'm not sure it's a threat actually, but perhaps it is," Trump said Wednesday when asked about the comments made by the former senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader.

Nine other recommendations were referred by the Secret Service outside of the agency. For example, proposals to reduce the number of protectees as well as to evaluate whether the Secret Service should remain within the Department of Homeland Security were both referred to Congress as the Secret Service said it does not have the authority to accept or reject the recommendations, the report stated. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during an interview with Fox News on Thursday that Trump was “satisfied” with the recently released report and noted that the president’s budget bill passed last week gave additional funding to the agency. 

“They needed more resources as far as training,” she said, adding, “Equipment, drone technology, counter-drone technology — all of that was something that needed to be addressed.”

The Secret Service plans to continue to assess its operations and make additional changes as needed, the report stated. 

Associated Press reporting contributed to this story.