The agency in charge of Donald Trump's safety is nearing its "breaking point," NBC News reports.
According to a dozen current and former agents who spoke to the news outlet, insufficient staffing coupled with an increased workload has brought the Secret Service to a "state of crisis" that is creating a perfect storm of errors, lax protocols, and low morale that could result in devasting failure.
On July 13, Thomas Crooks, 20, fired eight shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler Penn. One of the shots struck Corey Comperatore in the head as he attempted to shield his wife and daughters from the gunfire.
Two months later, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was arrested in connection with an attempted assassination attempt on Trump while the former president was golfing at his West Palm Beach country club.
Two agents who spoke to NBC News said Trump's return to Butler for another rally is happening at the precise time when the agency is "redlining."
"The U.S. Secret Service is killing their people, and worse, they are supposed to have a zero-fail protective mission on zero rest/sleep," said one former agent. "I love my agency, but they are setting themselves up for another incident."
Both the current and former agents asked not to be identified so they could speak openly about the many issues plaguing the Secret Service. One law enforcement official noted that the Secret Service is "stretched virtually to the breaking point" with another adding, "I hate to say it, they are going to hit rock bottom fast."
Secret Service's chief spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, acknowledged the unsustainable nature of the problem.
"The increasing demand placed on the agency during this dynamic threat environment has resulted in our people being pushed to the limit," he said in a statement. "We recognize that this is not sustainable, and we cannot risk another mission failure."
Agents recounted to the outlet numerous instances were agents had fallen asleep on the job in recent months, due to excessively long hourse and in some cases going months without a day off.
"Mistakes are being made," one agent said with another adding so many agents, "are at the end of their ropes."
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