According to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the US Secret Service failed to address critical drone threats prior to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The watchdog agency highlighted significant gaps in the security planning, specifically noting that the agency did not deploy or utilize counter-drone technology effectively despite knowing potential risks. The GAO investigation revealed that while the Secret Service had access to drone-detection systems, coordination issues and technical oversight prevented their proper implementation on the day of the rally. This failure allowed Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter, to fly a commercial drone near the rally site earlier in the day to survey the area, gathering crucial reconnaissance before opening fire. In response to these findings, lawmakers and security experts are calling for urgent reforms within the Secret Service. The report emphasizes the need for standardized protocols regarding drone threats at high-profile political events, warning that the agency must modernize its defense capabilities to counter increasingly accessible unmanned aerial technologies.