Representative Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, is demanding the Secret Service and the Trump administration provide clarity on whether security recommendations from a bipartisan House task force have been put into action following Saturday's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Crow, who served as the ranking member on the panel that investigated two assassination attempts against President Trump in 2024, told CNN's Kasie Hunt on Monday that he wants to know how many of the task force's proposals have actually been adopted. He questioned whether they have been “sitting on a shelf over the last year, collecting dust.”
Task Force Recommendations Largely Unaddressed
The task force's final report, released in December 2024, listed more than 30 recommendations for the Secret Service. Among them were calls to consolidate all operations plans, assess security coverage both inside and outside secure perimeters, and increase staffing to handle chaotic and emergency situations.
The report also urged Congress to review the Secret Service's budget, staffing, and retention issues, and to reduce the number of protectees, which it said had expanded significantly. Crow reiterated the need for those reforms Monday, arguing the agency requires “vastly more resources.”
Security Breach at the Hilton
The Washington Hilton, where the WHCA dinner was held, issued a statement Saturday saying the hotel operated under stringent security protocols directed by the Secret Service. The agency led security for the event alongside the Metropolitan Police Department and hotel security.
During the gala, a man breached a security checkpoint one floor above the ballroom where Trump, administration officials, members of Congress, and journalists were gathered. The president shared a video on his Truth Social platform showing the suspect running past law enforcement officers, who drew their weapons in response.
The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, was charged Monday with attempted assassination of Trump, transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. For more details on the charges, see our coverage of the suspect's arraignment.
Reactions and Political Fallout
Trump praised the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting quickly and bravely. On Sunday, he argued the incident underscores the need for a ballroom at the White House, a proposal that has gained traction among some Republicans. Senator Lindsey Graham is leading a push for a $400 million White House ballroom, citing security concerns after the attack. Read more about that effort here.
Crow pushed back against that argument, saying the lesson should not be to retreat from public accessibility. “The lesson learned from this cannot be, ‘We have to stop being accessible, we have to stop going out in public, we have to stop being available to the American people that we represent, that we have to put ourselves behind higher fences and behind ballrooms,’” he said.
The Washington Hilton has defended its security protocols, stating they were fully compliant with Secret Service directives. For a detailed breakdown of the hotel's security stance, see this report.
