Vance faces heat over lake scandal, mounting White House turmoil
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Senator Adam Schiff demands answers after federal resources were used to alter an Ohio lake’s water levels for JD Vance’s family trip.
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Vice President JD Vance speaks to airmen and family members of the 501st Combat Support Wing during a visit to Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 (AP)
The US Secret Service and military engineers are under scrutiny after Senator Adam Schiff requested explanations regarding the Trump administration’s decision to adjust the water level of Caesar Creek Lake in Ohio to accommodate a family boating trip for Vice President JD Vance on his birthday, The Guardian reported.
The Secret Service stated that it requested the outflow modification shortly before Vance’s August 2 trip to allow his security detail to safely navigate the Little Miami River, which the lake feeds. Officials emphasized that neither Vance nor his staff was aware of the request.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Corps of Engineers leadership, Schiff suggested that using public funds to alter lake outflow for personal use may have been improper. He requested details on the decision-making process and supporting documentation.
Schiff wrote, “The misuse of public water resources for the vice-president’s family is particularly offensive considering this administration’s cuts to federal agencies, cuts which are already harming outdoor recreation opportunities for American families.”
Background on water adjustments
The Guardian noted that military engineers in Louisville, Kentucky, who oversee the area, have historically modified water outflows for public purposes, including community river events and emergency responder training.
Regulations require approval and documentation for any deviation from normal procedures to ensure risks such as flooding or environmental impacts are properly assessed.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said in a statement last week that the Secret Service request “met the operational criteria outlined in the Water Control Manual for Caesar Creek Lake and did not require a deviation from normal procedures.”
In his letter, Schiff argued that the Army Corps improperly allowed access to public resources for personal purposes and waived standard documentation required to justify potential risks: “Accordingly, I request an explanation of this USACE action and a commitment to no longer using federal resources for such unjustified and frivolous purposes.”
Broader water management issues
Schiff also cited the Trump administration’s release of billions of gallons of water from California reservoirs as another example of questionable Army Corps actions. The release followed a White House executive order purportedly aimed at fighting Los Angeles fires, though reports suggest the water would not have reached Southern California directly.
Vance’s communications director, Will Martin, defended the canoe trip in Breitbart, arguing that Democrats were attempting to frame it as elitist: “The far-left media is desperate to smear Vice-President Vance, and they’ve hit a new low by attacking him for enjoying his birthday with his wife and kids.”
Martin added that critics “have no clue how normal families operate” and described the idea of a family canoe trip as “completely foreign to them.”
Wider context
Vice President JD Vance’s tenure has been dogged by mounting controversies that have intensified public and media scrutiny.
His office faces accusations of misusing public resources, most recently after reports that the Secret Service and Army Corps of Engineers altered Ohio water levels to accommodate a private birthday outing for Vance and his family. Critics argue this incident reflects a broader pattern of entitlement and disregard for accountability.
Leaks from within the administration have deepened concerns about internal dysfunction and a lack of transparency in decision-making, suggesting growing rifts inside Vance’s circle.
Compounding the criticism, Vance has presided over several waves of high-profile layoffs across federal agencies, sparking outrage over misplaced priorities and the damage inflicted on staff morale and institutional stability.
Taken together, these scandals portray a vice presidency mired in controversy, weakened by internal fractures, and increasingly questioned over its integrity and competence.
