WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch A Rebuke for the Secret Service, a Year After Trump's Near Assassination
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Jul 16, 2025 Sen. Rand Paul uncovers serious failures within the Secret Service in a revealing report about last year’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The talk shifts to the pressing need for reforms, suggesting a separation of protective duties from financial investigations to enhance agent efficacy. The conversation also touches on a proposed $9 billion rescissions package, highlighting the political challenges Republicans face in achieving budget cuts. The hosts debate the importance of balancing fiscal responsibility with crucial humanitarian aid.
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Secret Service's Communication Failures
- The assassination attempt on Trump revealed multiple communication failures by the Secret Service.
- Despite internal reviews, no one was fired for these critical lapses in protection.
Manpower Limits Affect Protection
- The Secret Service denied or failed to fill 10 requests for additional protective resources during Trump's 2024 campaign.
- Many denials were due to manpower and resource constraints rather than political bias.
Failure Beyond Resources
- Resource shortages do not excuse operational failures like failing to notify Trump's detail about a potential threat.
- The culture at the Secret Service allowed these failures to persist without firings.