Homeland Security Chief Calls Trump Shooting a Security ‘Failure’

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said on Monday that the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump was a “failure” of security, as the Secret Service confronts scrutiny over its efforts to protect government officials.

“An incident like this cannot happen,” Mr. Mayorkas told CNN, adding: “When I say something like this cannot happen, we are speaking of a failure.”

The comments, from the head of the department that oversees the Secret Service, came after President Biden called for an “independent review” of the security planning for the Trump rally in Butler, Pa., where the shooting occurred on Saturday.

The Secret Service is facing intense questions over the security perimeter at the rally, which did not include a warehouse roof where the would-be assassin fired shots at Mr. Trump. The gunman, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pa., was killed.

The Secret Service has said that the warehouse was outside its perimeter, meaning that local law enforcement had responsibility for sweeping and securing the building. But former federal law enforcement officials have said that the Secret Service — whose foremost responsibility is protecting current and former U.S. leaders — should have ensured that building was secured before the rally took place. The agency often relies on local law enforcement for security at events.

Mr. Mayorkas also rejected accusations from some Republicans that his department had denied a request by Mr. Trump’s security detail for more resources from the Secret Service. “That’s a baseless and irresponsible statement and it is one that is unequivocally false,” Mr. Mayorkas said.