Washington, D.C. — August 29, 2025
The U.S. Secret Service’s Counter Sniper Team is operating with less than one-third of the staff it needs to fulfill its mission, according to a report released Friday by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
The review found that the unit — responsible for providing long-range protection at events attended by presidents, candidates, and other protectees — is 73 percent below required staffing levels. The inspector general warned that the shortage could limit the agency’s ability to prevent attacks on national leaders.
The audit was initiated after the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally. A Secret Service counter sniper shot and killed the gunman, preventing further casualties.
The report said the Secret Service relied heavily on overtime and assistance from other Department of Homeland Security components to cover assignments. Between 2020 and 2024, counter snipers worked nearly 248,000 overtime hours, equal to about 24 additional full-time employees per year.
During the 2024 campaign season and the 2025 inauguration, the agency supplemented its team with trained personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The inspector general also found that some counter snipers assigned to events had not completed required weapons requalification. In fiscal year 2024, none of the unit’s members requalified for daytime shooting in the second quarter. Despite this, they were deployed to 11 percent of protectee events that year, including appearances by President Biden.
The report recommended that the Secret Service develop a staffing plan, consider recruiting from outside law enforcement or military services, and ensure that all counter snipers meet requalification requirements before deployment.
