The House unanimously voted on Wednesday to establish a task force to investigate the security lapses that led to the assassination attempt on President Trump on July 13. The 416-0 vote highlights the bipartisan condemnation of the shooting incident at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized the importance of protecting national leaders, stating, “Ensuring the safety and security of our nation’s leaders is a responsibility that transcends party lines.”
The newly formed task force will consist of 13 members, comprising seven Republicans and six Democrats. Its primary goal will be to analyze the failures that occurred on the day of the attempted assassination and to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The task force has been granted subpoena power and is expected to deliver a comprehensive report by December 13.
The bill was introduced by Republican Representative Mike Kelly, whose hometown of Butler was the location of the attack. Kelly, who was present at the rally with his family, expressed the profound impact the incident has had on his community. “My community is grieving,” Kelly said. “They are shocked by what happened in our backyard. The people of Butler and the people of the United States deserve answers.”
Kelly also noted his initial concerns about the rally’s location, citing it as a potentially challenging venue for such a large event. He views the task force as an opportunity to restore public trust in lawmakers’ ability to address crises collaboratively.
The House has already conducted three hearings related to the shooting. In a notable development, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday, following a contentious appearance before a congressional committee where she faced intense scrutiny from both parties. Cheatle described the assassination attempt as the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades but frustrated lawmakers by not providing detailed answers about the ongoing investigation.
Democrats have also expressed strong support for the task force. Representative Jim McGovern, D-Mass., echoed the need for thorough investigation and prevention measures. “We need to know what happened. We need to get to the truth. We need to prevent this from ever, ever happening again,” McGovern stated.
