Key facts
- The Secret Service has experienced delays and gaps in updating its protection policies, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
- Between 2015 and 2025, the agency dealt with 83 security incidents but updated policies in response to only 25.
- The report specifically cited drone incidents, including one that made contact with President Obama's motorcade and another flown over a rally for then-candidate Bernie Sanders.
- A failure to document the rationale for not updating policies in response to security incidents was a key concern.
- The Secret Service also failed to update eight of 22 protection policies within the required four-year timeframe.
- A memorandum of understanding concerning overseas security has not been updated since 1991, failing to address modern threats like drones.
A report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed significant delays and deficiencies in the U.S. Secret Service's policy update procedures, particularly concerning emerging threats like civilian drones. The report highlights that the agency has failed to adequately adapt its security protocols despite numerous incidents, including an assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The GAO found that between 2015 and 2025, the Secret Service dealt with 83 security incidents but only updated its protection policies in response to 25 of them. A key concern is the agency's failure to document the rationale behind decisions not to update policies, a practice exemplified by several drone-related incidents. These included a drone making contact with President Barack Obama’s motorcade in 2015 and another flown over a rally for then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
Furthermore, the report indicated that the Secret Service failed to update eight out of 22 protection policies within the mandated four-year timeframe. A memorandum of understanding between the Secret Service and the Diplomatic Security Service, which outlines responsibilities for the president’s overseas security, has not been updated since 1991, despite requiring annual review. This outdated agreement does not account for contemporary threats such as drones.
Nathan Tranquilli, acting director of the GAO, noted that the agency faces numerous challenges in its "zero fail mission" and that some policy updates have been sidelined due to resource allocation decisions. The report recommended that the Secret Service revise its policy to mandate the documentation of rationales when security incidents do not lead to policy changes. A spokesperson for the Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the report stated that the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency, has agreed with all recommendations and plans to implement the necessary changes.