Vice President JD Vance’s recent family outing on the Little Miami River has stirred controversy after it was revealed that the U.S. Secret Service requested an increase in the river’s water level to facilitate his security detail during the excursion.
According to The Guardian, which broke the story on Wednesday, the vice president and his family were celebrating Vance’s 41st birthday when the Secret Service coordinated with federal and state agencies to raise the water level of the river. Locals spotted Vance canoeing on the river, and social media posts noted the presence of federal agents.
One Reddit user commented, “Bridge and traffic were disrupted in Milford because someone wanted to canoe down the Little Miami River this morning.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that its Louisville office had received “a request to temporarily increase outflows from Caesar Creek Lake to support safe navigation of US Secret Service personnel.”
An unnamed source claimed the move was also intended to create “ideal kayaking conditions” for the vice president’s family, although The Guardian could not independently verify this.
Requests for comment from Vance’s office, the Secret Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers were not returned by publication time. Former White House ethics counsel Norm Eisen, who served during the Obama administration, expressed concern over the situation.
“I never got one to increase the outflow of a waterway as part of a government official going kayaking,” Eisen said. “I never would have permitted this kind of 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.”
U.S. Geological Survey data for Caesar Creek Lake confirmed a sharp spike in water levels followed by a quick drop in early August, aligning with the Vance family’s visit.
In a statement, the Secret Service acknowledged working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the safe passage of motorized boats, though it declined to comment further on specifics.
While the Army Corps confirmed the action met operational criteria and did not require deviation from standard procedures, critics argue such accommodations for individual recreation are extremely rare.
Vance’s family vacations have drawn attention in recent months. A Disneyland trip prompted protests in Los Angeles, while a Vermont ski getaway drew backlash over foreign policy issues. Protestors in the U.K. have also vowed to greet the Vance family during their upcoming vacation in the Cotswolds.
As Vance’s public profile grows, so too does scrutiny over the privileges and optics surrounding his time in office.