The acting director of the U.S. Secret Service is scheduled to testify on Thursday before a House of Representatives committee that is examining security failures related to two unsuccessful assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump.

Acting Director Ronald Rowe will provide his testimony as the bipartisan task force, consisting of seven Republicans and six Democrats, prepares to release its final report on the investigation.

“It is crucial that we acknowledge the seriousness of our shortcomings on July 13, 2024. I bear the burden of knowing that we came perilously close to losing a protectee, and our failure resulted in the tragic loss of a father and husband,” Rowe stated in his prepared remarks prior to the hearing.

“This entire situation highlights our inability to fulfill the expectations and obligations of the Secret Service.”

The agency has faced scrutiny regarding its staffing levels and communication systems after Trump survived two assassination attempts during this year’s presidential campaign.

In July, a gunman fired eight shots at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania, injuring Trump in the ear and resulting in the death of another attendee. The assailant was subsequently killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.

Two months later, a man armed with a gun barricaded himself near a Trump-owned golf course in Florida, allegedly intending to kill the then-Republican candidate while he was golfing. The suspect, Ryan Routh, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges and is currently awaiting trial.

Rowe expressed his “shame” regarding the security failures associated with the Pennsylvania incident but praised the agency’s response to the Florida situation, highlighting the actions of an agent who identified the gunman before he could fire.

Rowe, who assumed leadership after his predecessor stepped down following the shooting in Pennsylvania, has committed to holding accountable those agents who failed in their security duties. He stated during his campaign that the level of protection provided to Trump was comparable to that of the current president, Joe Biden.

The incident at the rally has undermined public confidence in the Secret Service, tarnishing its esteemed “zero fail” reputation for safeguarding presidents and other high-profile officials in the United States.

While the Secret Service has generally avoided criticism from Trump regarding federal law enforcement and his plans for reform, the agency’s handling of the Pennsylvania shooting has faced bipartisan backlash. An interim report from the House task force, published in October, revealed insufficient coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement prior to the July rally.