US Vice President JD Vance took the help of the US Army Corps of Engineers for an unusual adjustment to the outflow of an Ohio lake to accommodate his family's boating trip to celebrate his 41st birthday, according to a Guardian investigation.
The US Secret Service requested the change to ensure "safe navigation" for the vice-president's security detail during an August excursion on the Little Miami River , according to the US army corps of engineers (USACE).
Social media posts indicated Vance was seen canoeing on the river, which receives water from Caesar Creek Lake , on August 2, his 41st birthday.'
An anonymous source claimed the outflow adjustment was intended not only for Secret Service safety but also to create optimal kayaking conditions, though this specific assertion couldn't be independently verified.
This revelation prompts concerns about the potential misuse of public infrastructure for personal leisure, particularly as the Trump administration has implemented significant cuts to foreign aid, scientific research and government positions under its "efficiency" initiative.
The USACE in Louisville was initially approached regarding the modification. USGS data reveals an abrupt rise in river levels and corresponding lake elevation decrease during Vance's holiday period in early August.
USACE spokesperson Gene Pawlik confirmed receiving a request to temporarily increase Caesar Creek Lake outflows for Secret Service personnel safety. The Secret Service stated they coordinated with Ohio authorities and USACE for safe watercraft operation but declined to discuss operational specifics.
Whilst USACE occasionally modifies outflows for community events and emergency response training, the anonymous source indicated that "special releases" aren't typically granted for individual requests.
The USACE confirmed the request adhered to operational guidelines and didn't require deviation from standard procedures. Downstream stakeholders were notified before the outflow increase on August 1, 2025.
Ethics experts, including former White House officials Richard Painter and Norm Eisen, criticised the arrangement, particularly given recent National Park Service staff reductions affecting public access. They questioned the appropriateness of such accommodations for government officials' personal recreation.
The US Secret Service requested the change to ensure "safe navigation" for the vice-president's security detail during an August excursion on the Little Miami River , according to the US army corps of engineers (USACE).
Social media posts indicated Vance was seen canoeing on the river, which receives water from Caesar Creek Lake , on August 2, his 41st birthday.'
An anonymous source claimed the outflow adjustment was intended not only for Secret Service safety but also to create optimal kayaking conditions, though this specific assertion couldn't be independently verified.
This revelation prompts concerns about the potential misuse of public infrastructure for personal leisure, particularly as the Trump administration has implemented significant cuts to foreign aid, scientific research and government positions under its "efficiency" initiative.
The USACE in Louisville was initially approached regarding the modification. USGS data reveals an abrupt rise in river levels and corresponding lake elevation decrease during Vance's holiday period in early August.
USACE spokesperson Gene Pawlik confirmed receiving a request to temporarily increase Caesar Creek Lake outflows for Secret Service personnel safety. The Secret Service stated they coordinated with Ohio authorities and USACE for safe watercraft operation but declined to discuss operational specifics.
Whilst USACE occasionally modifies outflows for community events and emergency response training, the anonymous source indicated that "special releases" aren't typically granted for individual requests.
The USACE confirmed the request adhered to operational guidelines and didn't require deviation from standard procedures. Downstream stakeholders were notified before the outflow increase on August 1, 2025.
Ethics experts, including former White House officials Richard Painter and Norm Eisen, criticised the arrangement, particularly given recent National Park Service staff reductions affecting public access. They questioned the appropriateness of such accommodations for government officials' personal recreation.
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