A report released about two weeks ago on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump this summer in Butler, Pennsylvania, comes to an alarming conclusion about the Secret Service’s shortcomings. In the absence of “a fundamental reform” it says, “another butler can and will reproduce.” Will this sobering assessment help drive real change, quickly?

The 52-page report was written by a bipartisan committee appointed under the Department of Homeland Security. This investigation into the Butler shooting included 58 interviews and 7,000 documents. He goes into detail about the failures on the field. The roof from which the shooter fired was considered part of the “outer perimeter” traditionally staffed by state and local police, not the Secret Service.

Communication between these agencies was confusing. About 20 minutes before Mr. Trump took the stage, Secret Service personnel were informed of a “suspicious person” who was using a range finder, and the police were trying to locate him for questioning. “Trump’s executives – those closest to him and responsible for managing his personal movements – were never informed. » the sign says.

The report also makes broader criticisms of secret service culture, including “an undertraining model”; an attitude of “do more with less” what is “incompatible” with its mission without failure; “over-reliance on staff assignment based on categories (former, candidate, candidate)” instead of individual risk assessments; and a lack of auditing and “continuous improvement” mechanisms.

Panel says new funds would help, “but an influx of funds, without more, will not solve the problems. » It contains recommendations for improving communications and planning, while suggesting new leaders recruited from outside the agency. The report also argues that the Secret Service should shed responsibility for investigating financial crimes, so it can “hyper-focused” on its most vital task.

“There is simply no excuse for having to ‘do more with less’ when it comes to protecting national leaders,” the sign says. “Until these responsibilities are fulfilled, no resources (funds or time) should be allocated to other missions that are not centrally linked to the protection function. » After Butler, this is an idea that must be taken seriously.

-The Wall Street Journal