Secret Service director plans reforms, agent retraining

The congressional task force assigned to examine the security breakdowns prior to assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump heard testimony from Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe on Thursday during its final meeting. Rowe emphasized planned and implemented departmental changes, as well as the need for a cultural shift within the presidential security agency. Agents need to feel empowered to speak out when they notice an issue and their training must reinforce this, Rowe said. The department’s “see something, say something” culture has disappeared, but it needs to return and that will only happen through retraining, he continued.

Task force Chairman Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., opened the meeting by sharing what the task force identified as key factors behind the security failure at the July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Poor planning caused confusion between members of local law enforcement and federal security agents who left sensitive areas unsecured, Kelly said. The command structure and communication protocol between agents also contributed to the slipshod security, he said. However, the chairman went on to praise Rowe for the initial operational reforms following the first assassination attempt. Kelly attended both of Trump’s rallies in Butler and described a night-and-day difference in security at the second, Oct. 5 event, saying the site felt like the safest place in the world.

What changes has Rowe made? The interim director noted the department's new aviation unit allowed for birds-eye surveillance with drones. The agency also increased security coordination by having local law enforcement officers use its military GPS tracking system. Working seamlessly with state and local police is a big part of the paradigm shift, Rowe said.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report for more detail on the bipartisan task force’s findings.