White House Redirects $15M in USAID Funds to Pay for Russ Vought’s Security Detail
The White House is redirecting millions of dollars in foreign aid funding to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a move exposing tension over U.S. fiscal priorities. According to Reuters, the budget office is using funds from the now-defunct U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to finance protection by the U.S. Marshals Service through the end of 2026.
The decision has drawn scrutiny because USAID’s operating funds are meant to support international development, not domestic protection. Critics say it raises ethical concerns amid broader cuts to global aid programs. Documents obtained by Reuters show about $1.6 million was used for security during Vought’s brief tenure as acting USAID administrator and about $13.5 million is currently budgeted for his OMB post.
USAID itself has been largely dismantled under the current administration, resulting in the layoff of thousands of staff and closure of many aid initiatives abroad. The agency’s shutdown has dramatically reduced U.S. global humanitarian efforts.
A person familiar with the arrangement told Reuters the protective detail comprises more than a dozen marshals, though the U.S. Marshals Service does not confirm specific assignments. That same person said Vought has received credible threats that are apparently linked to his political role, including his work as a lead author of the conservative plan Project 2025.
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OMB spokesperson Rachel Cauley said the administration will continue to use “available funds at the three agencies overseen by the director to protect him.”
The use of USAID cash for domestic security spotlights growing debate over resource allocation, especially as foreign aid has declined and global crises persist. Lawmakers on both sides are expected to demand answers about legal authority and budgeting practices behind the transfer.
A federal watchdog review and possible congressional inquiries are likely next as questions mount over the legality and precedent of repurposing foreign aid funding for personal security.
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