The Secret Service failed to update its protection policies in response to a majority of 83 security incidents from fiscal year 2015 through fiscal year 2025. The agency did not revise its protocols after drone threats and assassination attempts, including a shooting near Vice President Vance’s motorcade in May 2026.

There were 83 security incidents involving Secret Service protectees during this period, yet the agency updated its protection policies in response to only 25 of them. The Secret Service has not reviewed or updated eight of 22 protection policies within the required four-year time frame.

The agency encountered drone incidents from 2015 to 2021 but did not update its policies to address civilian use of drones prior to July 2024. A shooter used a drone in an assassination attempt on then-former President Trump in July 2024. In that incident in Butler, Pa. The culprit flew a drone for 11 minutes over the crowd to position himself for a shot at Donald Trump.

Secret Service policy does not require personnel to document their rationale when they determine an incident does not warrant a protection policy update. Secret Service officials told the Government Accountability Office that documenting the rationale for not updating policies would be important because it shows an incident was fully reviewed.

Secret Service officials said they try to make timely updates but are not always able to identify personnel available to do so. The Secret Service protects the President, Vice President, visiting foreign dignitaries, and others. From fiscal year 2015 through fiscal year 2025, the number of Secret Service protectees fluctuated, particularly around changes in presidential administrations.

The Secret Service and Diplomatic Security Service have not updated a key memorandum of understanding since 1991. This memorandum delineates the two entities’ roles and responsibilities for securing the President and others traveling abroad, and foreign dignitaries traveling to the United States. The Diplomatic Security Service is the security and law enforcement arm of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, US State Department. From fiscal year 2015 through fiscal year 2025, the Secret Service’s budget increased.

Why It Matters

The failure to update policies after a majority of 83 security incidents represents a gap in protocol adaptation over an 11-year span. The events described span from 2015 to 2026, covering multiple presidential administrations and evolving threats such as civilian drone usage.

The lack of documented rationale for policy decisions means there is no record showing that incidents were fully reviewed when updates were deemed unnecessary. This occurs despite the agency's mandate to protect high-profile figures and visiting dignitaries, and even as its budget increased during the same period.

Timeline

An alleged assassination attempt occurred at the April 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A shooting occurred near Vice President Vance’s motorcade in May 2026.

What's New

It also notes that an armed man got beyond security barriers at the April 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner where the president sat.

Further details reveal that in the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pa. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is an annual event sponsored by the White House Correspondents' Association.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the details of the assassination attempt. One account states that in the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.