A government report has revealed that the U.S. Secret Service faced several drone-related security incidents but did not update its protection policies or explain why it chose not to. The report, released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), highlights that the agency responded to various drone-related events without adjusting its security procedures or documenting the reasoning behind its decisions. This lack of documentation could have been crucial in understanding the growing threat of civilian drones, especially before one was used in the 2024 assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report also points out that the Secret Service has experienced delays and gaps in updating its policies to address emerging threats, a concern that has become more pressing after several high-profile security lapses in recent years. In the Butler incident, the would-be assassin used a drone to scout the area for 11 minutes, which helped him position himself on an unsecured rooftop to take a shot at Trump, narrowly missing him. Months later, another man with a rifle got unusually close to Trump during a visit to his golf course in West Palm Beach. In April, an armed individual breached security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where the president was present. These incidents underscore the increasing complexity of threats the Secret Service faces. According to the GAO report, the Secret Service addressed 25 out of 83 security incidents between 2015 and 2025 by updating its protection policies. Among these incidents were a drone that made contact with President Barack Obama’s motorcade in 2015 and another that flew about 200 feet over a rally for then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The report emphasizes the importance of documenting the rationale for not updating policies, noting that some of the missing information has been relevant to later attacks, such as the Butler incident. The GAO also pointed out that the Secret Service failed to update eight of its 22 protection policies within the required four-year timeframe. Additionally, a key agreement between the Secret Service and the Diplomatic Security Service, which outlines their roles in protecting the president overseas, hasn't been updated since 1991, despite annual review requirements. This outdated agreement fails to address modern threats like drones. The report recommends that the Secret Service revise its policies to require documentation when a security incident does not lead to a policy update. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, has agreed with the recommendations and plans to implement the necessary changes.