The White House has been quietly dipping into leftover USAID operating money to cover the security tab for Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, according to internal documents reviewed by reporters. The total comes to roughly $15 million, enough to fund a U.S. Marshals Service detail for Vought through the end of 2026, even as USAID winds down after major staff cuts and program cancellations.
The records show a kind of budgetary shell game in which what remained of USAID's operating expenses was shifted onto Vought's security line. Three internal documents outline the moves: one notes that OMB and USAID signed an agreement on Sept. 11, 2025, covering about $1.6 million through November, and another entry budgets $13.5 million for the remainder of the year, according to Reuters.
OMB Stands Firm, Marshals Keep Quiet
OMB spokeswoman Rachel Cauley made it clear the agency is not backing away from the funding strategy. She told reporters, "We are going to continue to use available funds at the three agencies overseen by the director to protect him," and did not dispute that USAID money would help underwrite the Marshals detail.
The U.S. Marshals Service, for its part, stuck to its usual tight-lipped posture. Officials told reporters the agency does not identify people under protection and that it typically seeks reimbursement from the supported agency, per Reuters.
Security Tab First Landed at CFPB
This latest shuffle follows earlier internal moves that started months before USAID was tapped. In July 2025, OMB sought roughly $4.7 million from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to cover Vought’s security through the end of that year. That arrangement was laid out in a memo first obtained by Government Executive, which reported that the funding would be shifted into the director’s front office.
Attempted Murder Case Fuels Safety Fears
The heightened concern over Vought’s safety is not occurring in a vacuum. Local court filings and reporting show a Maryland man, Colin Demarco, was arrested in January and faces attempted murder charges after appearing at a Northern Virginia home that investigators say belonged to a presidential appointee. Court documents and reporting by CBS News later identified the alleged target as Vought. Arlington County police have declined to publicly name the victim.
USAID Staff Watch Their Budget Walk Out the Door
Critics say diverting USAID operating dollars to pay for a White House official’s security highlights the political choices behind the agency’s rapid dismantling and the pressure on remaining staff who are tasked with winding down contracts. The transfer of USAID closeout responsibilities to OMB was reported last year and has appeared in broader coverage of the agency’s cuts and program cancellations, as detailed by Politico.
Unions and Watchdogs Cry Foul
Labor and oversight groups told reporters that using scarce aid dollars for a White House official’s protection raises basic questions about priorities during a contracted closeout. Union leaders and watchdogs voiced concern about the move in reporting by Government Executive, arguing that agency resources should be focused on preserving critical programs and ensuring an orderly wind-down.
For now, OMB says it will keep funding protection while remaining USAID staff and contractors finish closing out the agency’s work. The documents have sharpened scrutiny on how leftover aid money is being allocated as USAID winds down and as lawmakers and oversight officials weigh whether additional review is needed.
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