JD Vance’s family outing prompted the Army Corps to increase lake outflow for safety.
The request raised ethical concerns amid budget cuts affecting public infrastructure.
Experts criticized the preferential treatment for Vance during a family kayaking trip.
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What is the story about?
JD Vance’s team arranged for the US Army Corps of Engineers to take the unusual step of altering the outflow of a lake in Ohio to accommodate a recent family boating trip, the Guardian has learned.
According
to a statement from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the request from the US Secret Service was made to “ensure safe navigation” for the vice president’s security detail during an August outing on the Little Miami River.
On August 2, his 41st birthday, Vance was spotted in the south-western Ohio area, according to social media posts that noted he was seen canoeing on the river, a tributary that Caesar Creek Lake feeds into.
A source familiar with the situation, who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity, claimed that the request to alter the outflow of Caesar Creek Lake was made not only to support the vice president’s Secret Service detail but also to create “ideal kayaking conditions.” The Guardian was unable to independently verify this specific allegation.
The news raises questions about whether Vance’s office was potentially exploiting public infrastructure resources for his recreation at a time when the Trump administration has cut billions of dollars in foreign aid, scientific research and government jobs as part of its “efficiency” drive.
The vice president’s office did not reply to a request for comment.
The Guardian first approached the USACE in Louisville for a comment about the change on Tuesday. Publicly available data on the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows a sudden increase in the river level and a corresponding drop in lake elevation during the early August days when Vance was vacationing.
The request was escalated to USACE headquarters. In a statement emailed to the Guardian on Wednesday, spokesperson Gene Pawlik confirmed that the USACE Louisville District had received “a request to temporarily increase outflows from Caesar Creek Lake to support safe navigation of US Secret Service personnel.”
The Secret Service, in a statement said it had closely coordinated with the Ohio department of natural resources and USACE to conduct planning to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel could operate safely during a recent visit. It said it could not discuss specifics of its operational planning.
It is not uncommon for the USACE to adjust outflows to support public activities—for instance, during community river events or emergency responder training exercises.
In one instance, Caesar Creek Lake’s USACE, Louisville district Facebook page announced a “special release” as requested by the Ohio department of natural resources last year on 22 August but later publicly announced that the special release had been cancelled. No such public announcement was made before 1 August.
According to the Guardian’s anonymous source familiar with the situation, “special releases” are typically not carried out for individuals or based on personal requests.
The Guardian also inquired about whether the request was properly documented. Under USACE regulations, any request for a so-called “deviation”—a change from standard procedures—must be approved and accompanied by documentation justifying the change. This process is intended to outline any potential risks, such as flooding or environmental impacts, associated with the deviation.
The Guardian also requested information on whether the request was appropriately documented. USACE regulations require that any request for a “deviation” — a change from standard procedures — must receive formal approval and include documentation explaining the justification for the change. This process also ensures that risks associated with any deviation – including a flood risk or other environmental impact – is detailed.
Pawlik said the Secret Service request “met the operational criteria outlined in the Water Control Manual for Caesar Creek Lake and did not require a deviation from normal procedures”.
“It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels. Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025,” he added.
Although there are no allegations of illegal conduct by Vance’s office, ethics lawyer Richard Painter, who served in the George W. Bush administration, described the situation as hypocritical and “pretty outrageous.” He pointed out the irony of Vance receiving such accommodations for a family vacation while the administration’s budget cuts have severely impacted the National Park Service (NPS).
The National Parks Conservation Association has estimated that the NPS has lost about a quarter of its staff since January, which in turn has led to sections of some parks to be closed and hours to be changed due to staffing issues.
“Those cuts are directly impacting middle-class families’ vacations,” Painter said. “Whether they are doing it for the Secret Service or for him I think is splitting hairs. What he ought to be doing is choosing another place.”
A former White House special counsel for ethics and government reform, Norm Eisen said: “When I was President Obama’s ethics czar in the White House I got a lot of unusual requests, but I never got one to increase the outflow of a waterway as part of a government official going kayaking. My nickname was ‘Mr No’ and I certainly would have lived up to it in this situation. I never would have permitted this kind of a thing because whether it technically violates the rules or not, it creates the appearance that the vice-president of the United States is getting special treatment that’s not available to the average person who wants to utilise that body of water for recreational purposes.”
“While there may well be security-related explanations or justifications that come into the analysis, my reaction is: I don’t care. We shouldn’t be utilising government resources in this way. I never would have allowed it.”
