Secret Service didn't secure mobile devices, putting leaders at risk, report says

Source: The Hill

06/26/26 3:09 PM ET


The Secret Service left itself vulnerable to hacking due to issues with both official and personal devices, a government watchdog found in a report ordered after the assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pa. The report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of Homeland Security found that agents routinely relied on their personal phones for official business due to clunky communication software on official phones.

“This heightened risk occurred because the Secret Service’s process for identifying and implementing mobile device capabilities did not always fully identify employees’ operational needs, leaving employees without essential capabilities such that they resorted to using personal devices,” the report wrote.

“As a result, adversaries could have intercepted and exploited Secret Service information, placing at risk our Nation’s leaders, other protectees, and employees — especially when unsecured devices were used overseas.”

The OIG said the report was sparked in part by its broader review of the Butler shooting, where agents had used personal phones to coordinate with local law enforcement. That included a whistleblower complaint highlighting agents routinely using their own devices to communicate.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5943032-secret-service-hacking-vulnerability/