JD Vance’s Team Asked to Raise River Levels for Family Boat Trip

Sometimes, the line between official duties and personal benefit can get blurry, especially for public figures.

A recent incident involving US Vice President JD Vance has sparked debate about whether public resources were used for private enjoyment.

The story started with a simple request that has raised questions about fairness and ethics.

For His Own Personal Benefit?

On JD Vance’s 41st birthday, his team asked the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to raise the water level of the Little Miami River in Ohio, reports Digi24.

This river feeds into the Ohio River. The official reason given was security. The Secret Service said they needed higher water levels to ensure safe navigation for personnel during an official visit.

However, some sources say the real reason was different. An anonymous insider told The Guardian the request aimed to create perfect kayaking conditions for Vance’s family holiday.

This claim has not been independently confirmed, but public data shows the river level rose sharply while the reservoir level dropped at the same time, early August, when Vance was on vacation.

USACE responded by saying the request followed standard procedures. They added that no waivers were needed and that downstream stakeholders were warned in advance.

Still, unlike past cases where such water releases were publicized because they were for emergencies or events, this time no public announcement was made.

“Hypocritical and Outrageous”

People familiar with these operations say such special adjustments are rarely done for individuals.

The Corps has strict rules to avoid risks like flooding or harm to the environment. The lack of transparency and the timing of the release have led to criticism.

Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer in the Bush administration, called it “hypocritical and outrageous.”

He pointed out that federal agencies like the National Park Service have faced big budget cuts, hurting public access to parks and recreation. Painter said the Vice President should have picked a different vacation spot.

Norm Eisen, an ethics adviser during Obama’s time, was even more direct. He said he never allowed requests like this, saying it creates the impression that the Vice President got special treatment.

Even if no rules were broken, it raises serious ethical concerns about fairness and use of public resources.