FBI officers work on the perimeter of Trump International Golf Club, following an apparent assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, after a gunman was found at the Trump’s golf course, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. September 17, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello 

Security Lapses Highlight Strain on Secret Service as Election Nears

Gunman Evades Detection Near Trump Golf Course

Two months after narrowly surviving an assassination attempt, former U.S. President Donald Trump faced another serious security breach. On Sunday, a gunman went undetected for nearly 12 hours at Trump International Golf Course in Florida, coming within a few hundred yards of the Republican presidential candidate. Trump, who was playing golf at the time, was under Secret Service protection, though the agency’s personnel shortages have become a significant challenge in ensuring safety during the final stretch of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Secret Service Under Strain

The U.S. Secret Service is operating with approximately 400 fewer employees than authorized by Congress, according to government records. With the presidential election just weeks away, this staffing shortage has placed unprecedented pressure on the agency. According to three former Secret Service agents and a former department head, the demands placed on the agency are higher than ever before.

“The pace, the expectations, the pressure has never been worse than it is right now,” said Kenneth Valentine, a former agent.

Since Vice President Kamala Harris took over the Democratic nomination following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race in July, the Secret Service has expanded its protective coverage, placing further strain on its resources.

Incident at Trump’s Florida Golf Course

On Sunday, Trump’s desire to play golf in private at one of his clubs led to a significant security lapse. A routine site survey that might have uncovered the gunman hiding near the fifth hole was not conducted. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe acknowledged that the agency is under immense strain, stating, “We are redlining them,” during a news conference on Monday.

The suspected gunman, identified as Ryan Routh, was eventually spotted by a Secret Service agent, who fired at the man after seeing the muzzle of an AK-47-style rifle. Routh was apprehended shortly after, but security experts are questioning how he managed to evade detection for so long.

Lora Ries, a former top official at the Department of Homeland Security, criticized the lack of thorough surveillance, saying, “How was Routh not spotted by an advance team? Did the (Secret Service) use a drone over the golf course? Dogs? If not, why not?”

Secret Service Faces Criticism

The breach at Trump’s golf course is the second major security incident involving Trump in recent months. On July 13, a gunman fired six shots from atop a building at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, killing a rallygoer and grazing Trump’s ear. Secret Service agents managed to escort Trump to safety and neutralize the attacker, but agency officials have expressed deep concern over the lapses.

“I was ashamed,” Rowe told lawmakers on July 30, reflecting on the incident.

Staffing Shortfall and Increased Demand

The Secret Service currently employs 7,879 personnel, short of the 8,305 target set by former Director James Murray. Congress increased the agency’s budget by 9% this year to handle the additional demands of the 2024 election, but the agency has struggled to fill open positions. The intense nature of the job, combined with private-sector competition, has resulted in only 2% of applicants being hired.

This shortage has exacerbated security risks, particularly as agents are stretched thin, rushing from one assignment to another.

“The Secret Service does not have the resources, it doesn’t have the bodies,” said Bill Gage, a former agent, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the agency.

Trump Requests Increased Protection

Given the repeated security threats, Trump has requested additional agents for his protection. As a former president and current candidate, Trump is entitled to fewer resources than a sitting president, but his security needs have grown as he continues to hold public events in the lead-up to the November 5 election.

The recent incidents underscore the pressures facing the Secret Service as it grapples with personnel shortages, high-stress assignments, and unprecedented demands during one of the most contentious election cycles in U.S. history.