Trump’s Latest Assassination Attempt Exposes Secret Service Strain
Two months after a narrow escape from an assassination attempt, Donald Trump played golf under high security while a gunman remained hidden on the course for nearly 12 hours, undetected by the agency stretched beyond capacity.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the U.S. Secret Service faces a staffing shortage, operating with 400 fewer employees than Congress authorized.
With just weeks before the election, this gap is unlikely to close, as hiring processes for the agency take over 200 days.
The Secret Service has expanded its protective duties since Kamala Harris took over the Democratic presidential ticket from Joe Biden.
This has significantly strained the agency, according to former agents and officials. The increased pressure and expectations are pushing the limits of the department, with some calling it the most difficult period ever.
On Sunday, Trump’s desire for privacy at his Florida golf club resulted in a lack of routine security measures that might have revealed the hidden gunman, positioned near the fifth hole for hours before Trump approached the area.
Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, appointed after Trump’s narrow survival of the earlier assassination attempt, admitted the agency’s stress levels are high. He emphasized during a press conference that the agents are being pushed to the edge.
While both parties in Congress are open to approving additional funding, it won’t solve the immediate staffing problem, leading agents to face long hours and intense pressure.
This was evident during a Trump rally in July when a gunman fired six shots, fatally hitting a rallygoer and grazing Trump.
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Secret Service agents quickly neutralized the threat, but agency officials admitted the gunman shouldn’t have been able to shoot in the first place.
Rowe expressed his shame over security lapses during a recent hearing. At the Florida golf course on Sunday, an agent spotted the gunman’s rifle and opened fire, driving him away before he could target Trump.
The suspect, Ryan Routh, was later apprehended, but experts still question why he wasn’t detected sooner.
Trump’s unannounced golf outing contributed to the lack of intense security sweeps, increasing the challenge for agents to protect him on open courses.
Unlike previous presidents who played on closed military courses, Trump’s frequent outings on public golf courses pose unique security risks.
Trump has since called for more protection, noting that as a candidate and former president, his security detail is smaller compared to sitting presidents.
The Secret Service currently employs 7,879 staff, falling short of the 8,305 goal set by former Director James Murray for 2023, with plans to reach 10,000 by 2027.
Despite a 9% budget increase, the agency struggles to hire quickly, with only 2% of applicants making the cut due to the demanding nature of the job.
The agency also faces retention challenges, as agents are tempted by higher-paying private-sector jobs.
This shortage forces agents into back-to-back assignments, stretching the workforce beyond its limits.
Former agent Bill Gage remarked that the agency simply doesn’t have the necessary manpower or resources to meet its current demands.
Trump’s Latest Assassination Attempt Exposes Secret Service Strain
