Former president's onstage appearance led to end of airspace protection during assassination attempt.

The U.S. Secret Service was aware that former President Trump would be attending an open-air rally on July 13, as the Federal Aviation Administration's temporary flight restriction (TFR) had ended.

The agent informed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that they had previously warned their supervisor about the need for additional security but did not receive the requested extension, citing examples of the former president staying at rallies after the restrictions ended.

TFRs are usually issued by the FAA for events such as natural disasters, professional sports, and presidential movements.

No aircraft, including civilian drones, are allowed to fly during a TFR.

According to public records obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital, the Pennsylvania rally site does not lie in controlled airspace. This absence of restrictions supports the security rationale for a presidential TFR, which would prevent consumer drones with GPS technology from entering the airspace.

"The airspace database may prevent individuals from taking off depending on the type of drone, as James McDanolds, program chair for the School of Unmanned Technology at Sonoran Desert Institute, explained to Planet Chronicle Digital. A TFR is primarily aimed at ensuring the airspace remains clear and safeguarding our security and safety."

During the congressional hearing, the Secret Service typically receives a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) over an area when a protectee, such as a president or major presidential candidate, is present at the location.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's Interim Joint Report, released on July 13, revealed that a TFR was issued for the rally on that day, from 4:20 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

The Secret Service counter-drone agent discussed with another agent the possibility of extending TFR protection for the former president the day before the rally. They believed that the TFR should remain in place for a longer duration due to Trump's rallies frequently running late.

In other events where [Trump] spoke, I witnessed the expiration of TFRs and wished for their implementation during the duration of the event, as testified by the drone agent in their interview.

The report states that the agent's request for an extension was rejected without any explanation.

According to a source close to the committee, the denial of the CUAS (counter-unmanned aerial systems) advance agent’s request to extend the TFR was internal to USSS and the C-UAS Advance Agent did not know why the request was denied.

On July 12, the day before the rally, the assistant special agent in charge received the request in person from the counter-drone agent.

The drone agent stated that they would have preferred for the TFR to begin earlier and endure for a longer duration.

However, the TFR extension was never put in place.

The drone agent was unaware if the assistant special agent in charge had the ability to extend the TFR. Generally, a request goes through the Secret Service administration and then to the FAA for final approval.

The FAA does not deny TFR requests from the U.S. Secret Service as standard procedure, according to a spokesperson who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Trump was scheduled to speak at 5 p.m., but he took the stage an hour later, 15 minutes before the TFR was set to end. Despite Secret Service's claim that Trump was protected under a TFR at the time of the shooting, Thomas Crooks fired shots at the former president five minutes before it expired. Crooks was killed by a counter sniper moments later. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, and Secret Service agents surrounded him and escorted him away. Crooks' volley killed a member of the audience and wounded two others.

The U.S. Secret Service prohibits flying an unmanned aerial system on its restricted grounds, and it employs both visible and invisible measures to safeguard its protected sites, as stated by the Secret Service in a statement to Planet Chronicle Digital.

On the day of the rally, the drone agent stated that the counter-drone technology, consisting of drone detection systems, encountered technical difficulties and remained inactive until 4:33 p.m.

At 3:51 p.m., a crook flew his drone over the rally site for 11 minutes, just 30 minutes before the TFR was enacted, which may have prevented the drone from flying. The report indicates that if the CUAS system had been operational, it would have detected the crook's drone conducting pre-rally surveillance.

If the senators' counter-drone system was functioning during Crooks' drone flight, the drone agent would have requested a "consensual interview" with Crooks because the timing fell outside the TFR window.

Ronald Rowe, the Acting Director of the Secret Service, testified at a joint hearing on July 30 that the technical failures of the counter-drone systems had kept him up at night due to the eventual outcome of the assailant.

During a July 17 congressional hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that criminals had been present at the venue for around 70 minutes prior to the event. Following her testimony, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned, and several agents have been placed on administrative leave as the investigations continue.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stating that the Secret Service rejected multiple requests from local law enforcement for drone surveillance during the rally.

One whistleblower claims that the U.S. Secret Service rejected offers from a local law enforcement agency to use drone technology for the rally's security the night before the event, as per Hawley's statement.

"The failure of USSS to use drones during the event is particularly concerning, given that they had previously allowed the shooter to fly his own drone over the rally area. Additionally, the whistleblower claims that the drones offered to USSS had the capability to identify and neutralize active shooters."

The Secret Service and FAA are collaborating to provide additional airspace security for presidential candidates following the attempted assassination of Trump.

The Secret Service and the FAA collaborated to enhance the standard TFR safeguards for Presidential candidates after the events of July 13, in order to maintain the highest level of security and safety for all candidates.

"To enhance the safety of protectees, the U.S. Secret Service established a research and development office under Acting Director Ron Rowe's plan for an agency-wide paradigm shift. The office focuses on studying emerging technologies, including unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS measures, to ensure access to the most advanced technology possible."