Senator Adam Schiff has demanded answers from the Secret Service and US Army Corps of Engineers over the decision to alter the water level of an Ohio lake for Vice-President JD Vance's birthday boating trip. In a letter, Schiff questioned whether the use of public funds for the adjustment was appropriate.
The Secret Service requested the outflow of Caesar Creek Lake be changed on 2 August to allow Vance's security detail to safely navigate the Little Miami River. The agency stated that neither Vance nor his staff were aware of the request.
Schiff's letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and army corps leadership accused them of improperly leveraging public services for personal use and waiving standard documentation. He also criticised the administration's cuts to federal agencies, calling the misuse of water resources 'particularly offensive'.
The Army Corps of Engineers said the request met operational criteria and did not require a deviation from normal procedures. However, Schiff argued that the corps failed to document risks, including flood or environmental impacts, as required for such changes.
Vance's communications director, Will Martin, defended the trip, accusing Democrats and the media of attacking the vice-president for enjoying his birthday with family. He said the criticism showed 'no clue how normal families operate'.
