A campaign rally in Wisconsin with former President Donald Trump has been moved due to Secret Service staffing concerns.
A senior official confirmed the change of venue to The Hill.
The event was originally expected to be held outdoors at an airport, NBC and CBS News reported.
The event, the senior official said, will now be held at a smaller venue because of a shortage of Secret Service staff. The rally is set at the same time as the United Nationals General Assembly in New York.
“The agency was never configured to provide such an elevated level of protection for an increasing number of protectees. Our personnel and equipment are being pushed to their limits to sustain the current operational tempo,” per the senior official.
“This proposed Wisconsin event also took place during the United Nations General Assembly, where the Secret Service is responsible for the safety and security of over 140 world leaders amid a challenged global threat level,” the senior official added.
Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe wants a “paradigm shift,”the senior official noted.
“This paradigm shift would also position the agency to enhance its operational readiness to reduce reliance on external partners when providing heightened protection,” per the official.
Trump’s campaign website posted the event will now take place at the Prairie du Chien Area Arts Center.
“Former President Donald Trump is receiving heightened levels of U.S. Secret Service protection and our top priority is mitigating risks to ensure his continued safety at all times,” U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said. “Out of concern for operational security, we cannot provide specific details about resources allocated for event security or communications between agency personnel and our protectees.”
The Secret Service has been scrutinized for two failed assassination attempts against Trump.
Trump was injured in the first assassination attempt when a bullet grazed his ear at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
The second apparent attempt happened earlier this month while Trump was golfing on Florida.
