Washington D.C. – July 10, 2025
The United States Secret Service has suspended multiple members of its elite Counter Assault Team (CAT) and revoked their security clearances following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The disciplinary actions mark the first major internal fallout from the security failure that unfolded at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
According to sources familiar with the ongoing internal review, the suspensions stem from the agents’ conduct during the critical moments when the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was spotted on a nearby rooftop. The primary role of the Counter Assault Team is to move rapidly toward active threats and suppress them before they can harm the protectee. In this instance, the agents allegedly failed to act with the expected speed and aggression.
While a Secret Service counter-sniper ultimately neutralized the gunman, the delay in response by the CAT members has become a focal point of the agency's investigation. Their inaction is being treated as a serious breach of training and protocol. The revocation of security clearances effectively removes the suspended agents from operational duties while the review continues.
This development signals a growing internal reckoning at the Secret Service, which faces intense scrutiny from Congress and the public over how such a clear line-of-sight threat could have materialized during a high-profile event. Leadership within the agency is reportedly focusing on both pre-event security measures and the real-time actions of agents during the attack.
The Secret Service has not officially named the individuals involved or commented on the exact nature of the disciplinary steps, but it has acknowledged a comprehensive review is underway. The suspensions are being viewed as a public admission that lapses occurred—not only in preventing the shooter’s access to the vantage point but in the immediate tactical response once the threat was identified.
Further changes in policy, training, and field protocols are expected in the coming weeks as the investigation concludes. The agency’s leadership has pledged transparency and reform to restore public confidence in its mission to protect current and former U.S. leaders.
Related questions and answers
Why were the Secret Service agents suspended?
They allegedly failed to act swiftly during the Trump assassination attempt, violating protocol by not engaging the rooftop threat immediately.
What is the Counter Assault Team’s role?
The CAT’s mission is to neutralize active threats with speed and force to protect high-level individuals during security incidents.
Will more disciplinary actions be taken?
The investigation is ongoing. Additional changes in personnel, training, or policy are expected once the internal review is complete.
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