Trump Administration Official's $15 Million Security Detail Funded by Dismantled USAID Budget
In a controversial move, a senior aide to President Donald Trump, who championed significant government spending reductions, is now benefiting from a $15 million security detail financed by the slashed budget of the U.S. Agency for International Development. According to a recent Reuters report, Russell Vought, the director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, will receive protection from the U.S. Marshals Service through the end of the year, utilizing the remaining operational funds from USAID.
Background of USAID Dismantling and Its Impact
The Trump administration dismantled the 60-year-old foreign aid agency early in the president's second term, citing government efficiency as the rationale. This decision resulted in tens of thousands of government workers losing their jobs and a $60 billion reduction in humanitarian aid, affecting millions of vulnerable individuals globally, as reported by the Associated Press. The cuts have had far-reaching consequences, including concerns from a pregnant mother with AIDS in Uganda about her future due to the loss of USAID support.
Details of the Security Arrangement and Official Justifications
Official documents reveal that Vought's security detail involves more than a dozen Marshals, with the funding sourced from USAID's leftover operating expenses. When questioned about the use of these funds, OMB spokesperson Rachel Cauley stated, "We are going to continue to use available funds at the three agencies overseen by the director to protect him," likely referring to the budget office, USAID, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Marshals Service, while not specifically naming Vought, confirmed it could provide protection to executive branch members facing threats or at the attorney general's direction.
Connection to Project 2025 and Political Controversy
Vought, who was portrayed in an AI-generated video shared by Trump as the Grim Reaper, was the lead author of Project 2025, a manual produced by the Heritage Foundation in 2023 outlining conservative policies for the next presidency. Despite Trump's claims during the 2024 election cycle of having "nothing to do with Project 2025," it has influenced many policies in his second administration. Vought criticized what he perceived as a politically biased and bloated federal government in the project, arguing that presidents face a bureaucracy carrying out its own or radical agendas.
The Reuters source indicated that Vought has received serious threats linked to his involvement with Project 2025. Cauley blamed "The Left" for fostering an "assassination culture against public officials" and then expressing surprise at the measures needed for their safety. This comes amid a rise in political violence targeting both sides, including assassination attempts on Trump and shootings of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota.
Criticism from Advocacy Groups and Broader Implications
Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen strongly condemned Vought following the Reuters report. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, stated, "Russell Vought has literally taken food out the mouths of hungry children and treatment away from the sick and vulnerable—and now is using the proceeds to pay for what appears to be a platoon of bodyguards. Disgusting." This highlights the ethical debate over prioritizing security for officials over humanitarian aid, raising questions about budget allocations and government transparency in the Trump administration.
