A recent federal watchdog report has found that Secret Service agents routinely relied on personal smartphones, laptops, and unsecured messaging applications during protective operations, creating vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers and posing risks to U.S. national security. The findings stem from an extensive review of security weaknesses highlighted by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 24, 2024.
Investigators from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General examined nearly five million mobile calls made by Secret Service personnel between October 2022 and April 2025. They identified more than 15,000 calls conducted using personal devices during official duties, alongside approximately 24,000 text messages exchanged between personal and government-issued phones. Most of this communication took place within the United States, although agents operating overseas also used commercial messaging apps absent from government-issued devices.
The report attributes heavy use of personal devices to deficiencies in government-issued equipment, citing outdated or malfunctioning applications that failed to meet operational needs. For instance, in one notable case, an agent used a personal phone to receive a photo of the suspected shooter in the 2024 assassination attempt because the approved government messaging apps did not support sharing the image. The report noted that overseas agents generally relied on two unnamed commercial messaging platforms, which are not approved or integrated into secure government systems.
Security experts warn that personal device use without proper safeguards exposes sensitive communications to interception by foreign adversaries. Such breaches could enable hackers to access mission-critical information, including contacts, geolocation data, user histories, and photos. Furthermore, leaked data might reveal personal details about government officials and their families, potentially threatening their safety. Nation-state actors could also implant malware via compromised networks to further infiltrate secure communications.
The Secret Service currently prohibits the use of personal devices without prior authorization. The agency allows personnel to install preapproved third-party and proprietary applications via a centralized portal to meet operational demands. With more than 8,000 special agents, officers, and support staff deployed domestically and internationally, secure government-issued devices are intended to facilitate protected voice, video, text, and email communication alongside access to agency systems.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran acknowledged the report’s findings in a letter to the inspector general, stating that the agency has updated its mobile device policies and protocols to reduce the risk of adversaries intercepting sensitive information, though he did not disclose specific measures. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. The report underscores ongoing challenges in balancing operational functionality with cybersecurity protections within the agency’s communication tools.