The Guardian has learned that JD Vance’s team arranged for the Army Corps of Engineers to alter water flow from an Ohio lake to facilitate a family boating trip during a holiday.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Secret Service requested the change to “support safe navigation” for Vice President Vance’s security detail during an August outing on the Little Miami River. Social media posts from August 2—Vance’s 41st birthday—showed him canoeing on the river, which is fed by Caesar Creek Lake.
A source familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously, claimed the water flow adjustment wasn’t just for security purposes but also to create “ideal kayaking conditions.” The Guardian could not independently verify this claim.
The incident raises concerns about whether Vance’s office used public resources for personal recreation, particularly as the Trump administration has slashed billions in foreign aid, scientific research, and government jobs in the name of “efficiency.” Vance’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
When initially contacted, the USACE’s Louisville office referred the inquiry to headquarters. Spokesperson Gene Pawlik later stated that the agency had received a request to temporarily increase water releases from Caesar Creek Lake to assist Secret Service operations.
Public data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows a sudden rise in river levels and a corresponding drop in the lake’s water level during Vance’s early August vacation.
The Secret Service confirmed it coordinated with Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources and the USACE to ensure safe conditions for watercraft and emergency personnel but declined to discuss operational details.
While the USACE occasionally adjusts water flows for public events or emergency training, a source noted that “special releases” are typically not granted for individual requests. The Guardian also inquired whether proper documentation was filed for the change, as standard procedure requires justification for deviations from normal operations.
Pawlik stated the Secret Service’s request complied with the Caesar Creek Lake Water Control Manual and did not require a formal deviation. He added that downstream stakeholders were notified in advance and that the adjustment posed no risk to water levels.
No public announcement was made before the August 1 release, unlike a similar request last year that was later canceled.The vacation is scheduled for August 1, 2025.
While there’s no claim that Vance’s office acted illegally, ethics lawyer Richard Painter—who served in the George W. Bush administration—called it hypocritical and “pretty outrageous” for Vance to receive special accommodations for his family trip, especially when budget cuts have severely impacted the National Park Service (NPS).
The National Parks Conservation Association estimates that the NPS has lost about a quarter of its staff since January, forcing some park sections to close and operating hours to change due to staffing shortages.
“Those cuts are directly affecting middle-class families’ vacations,” Painter said. “Whether they’re doing this for the Secret Service or for him is beside the point. He should just pick another location.”
Norm Eisen, former White House ethics counsel under President Obama, added: “When I was Obama’s ethics advisor, I got plenty of unusual requests—but never one to alter a waterway’s flow for a government official’s kayaking trip.”
“My nickname was ‘Mr. No,’ and I would’ve earned it here. I never would’ve allowed this, because even if it technically follows the rules, it creates the impression that the vice president is getting special treatment unavailable to the average person who wants to use that water for recreation.”
“There may be security justifications, but my response is: I don’t care. Government resources shouldn’t be used this way. I would’ve said no.”
Additional reporting by Kira Lerner.
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