A visit by the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, prompted an unusual intervention by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which temporarily modified the water flow of Caesar Creek Lake in Ohio in early August. This was reported by The Guardian, which accessed sources and documents related to the case.
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The request was handled by the Secret Service with the aim of ensuring the safe navigation of your team during a recreational activity on the Little Miami River, a tributary fed by the aforementioned lake. According to the USACE, it was a measure taken to ensure the safe operation of the security personnel responsible for the vice president’s safety.
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Vance was seen on August 2 sailing down that watercourse, coinciding with his 41st birthday. Images of the day circulated on social media, showing him in a canoe in southwestern Ohio.
Suspicions about the use of public resources
An anonymous source consulted by The Guardian claimed that the alteration of the river flow was not only to facilitate the security team’s work, but also to create optimal conditions for kayaking. The British outlet, which also owns the online newspaper Guardian America, clarified that it could not independently verify this information.
The decision has raised questions about whether Vance’s office made discretionary use of state infrastructure for personal purposes, especially in a context where the administration of Donald Trump has pushed for significant budget cuts. Among the areas most affected by this policy are international aid, scientific research, and public jobs.
In response to press inquiries, Vance’s office did not issue any comments on the matter.
The Guardian stated that they first consulted the USACE the Tuesday after the incident. Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows a sudden alteration in the river levels and a corresponding decrease in the lake elevation during the first days of August.
The request was finally escalated to the USACE headquarters. In an official statement sent via email, spokesperson Gene Pawlik confirmed that the office in Louisville received “a request to temporarily increase the outflow of Caesar Creek Lake in order to ensure safe navigation for Secret Service personnel.”
On its part, the Secret Service claimed to have worked together with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Corps of Engineers to coordinate the security of the operation. However, the agency declined to provide specific details about its planning.
Although no illegality has been pointed out by Vance’s office, the former ethics lawyer of the George W. Bush administration, Richard Painter, described the episode as “quite scandalous” and contradictory in light of the budget cuts that have affected agencies such as the National Park Service.