Marsha Blackburn

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is calling for an immediate audit of the Secret Service following the alleged assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

In a sharply worded letter to Secret Service Director Sean Curran, Blackburn on Thursday accused the agency of suffering from a "clear pattern of incompetence" and demanded a "full, thorough audit of every single employee" on the agency's payroll.

"It is apparent that the United States Secret Service is in desperate need of a course correction," Blackburn wrote. "Unless you root out the rot, our nation will suffer the consequences."

Blackburn's criticism comes after authorities say an armed suspect infiltrated the White House Correspondents' dinner on April 25 before being stopped by Secret Service agents.

The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly carried a shotgun, handgun, and knives into the Washington Hilton, where Trump was scheduled to speak.

Officials said the suspect was staying at the hotel and likely bypassed the outermost layer of security because he was a registered guest.

Secret Service agents eventually detained the suspect before greater harm occurred, though the incident raised fresh questions about presidential security at one of Washington's highest profile events.

Blackburn praised the agents who responded quickly but argued the breach reflected deeper problems within the agency.

She pointed to several recent controversies involving Secret Service personnel, including an agent tied to security failures at the 2024 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania; another accused of tax fraud; and an agent charged with murdering his brother.

Blackburn also referenced reports that Secret Service investigators failed to identify a gunman who recently fired shots near the White House.

"There have been several revelations that raise serious doubts about the state of your agency and its ability to keep its protectees safe," Blackburn wrote.

She additionally criticized the agency's hiring and vetting practices, citing reports of a Uniformed Division officer arrested in Miami for alleged lewd conduct and a prior case involving an agent accused of suggesting late conservative leader Charlie Kirk deserved assassination.

The Trump administration has repeatedly praised the Secret Service agents who protected the president during the latest incident.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on April 27 said Trump was "extraordinarily grateful" for the courage and professionalism displayed by law enforcement officers, especially an agent who reportedly took a bullet to the chest but survived because of his protective vest.

Still, Blackburn argued individual acts of heroism do not erase systemic concerns inside the agency.

Her call for sweeping internal reforms adds to mounting scrutiny over the Secret Service as political violence and threats against public officials continue escalating nationwide.