The Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog has released its first report examining the US Secret Service in light of last year’s attempted assassination of President Trump in Pennsylvania. The findings indicate that the countersniper team is significantly understaffed.
The Inspector General’s Office’s report is the first of five examining threats during Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on the capabilities of the countersniper unit in responding to threats at the event.
According to the report, “The US Secret Service Counter Sniper Team is operating at 73% below the required staffing levels needed to fulfill its mission.” It warns that inadequate staffing can hinder the Secret Service’s ability to protect the nation’s top leaders, raising the risk of injuries or assassinations, which could have serious implications for national security.
The watchdog noted that due to chronic staffing shortages, the countersniper team has been relying on overtime work and support from other components of the Department of Homeland Security to meet its operational needs.
The Secret Service did not contest the report’s findings.
The scrutiny around the agency intensified after suspect Thomas Matthew Crook fired shots outside the security perimeter during the Butler rally, tragically killing a supporter of Trump and injuring the former president before being neutralized by a sniper.
The report indicates that the Secret Service has often depended on overtime and personnel from other DHS divisions to maintain adequate staffing, particularly during campaign seasons and the 2025 inauguration. In fact, countersnipers logged nearly 60,000 hours of overtime last year to support Secret Service operations.
Additionally, it was revealed that some snipers have not completed the latest required testing, yet they continue to be assigned to cover various events.
“Some countersnipers failed to meet the recertification standards for mandatory weapon training. Even after missing crucial retesting sessions, they were involved in 47 events—roughly 11% of the total events attended by the Secret Service in 2024,” the report noted.
To become a countersniper for the Secret Service, one must first serve as an agent for two years. Recently, this requirement was reduced to 18 months, but the report highlights that delays and restrictions on hiring military snipers could limit the pool of qualified candidates.
