Secret Service agents assigned to protect Vice President JD Vance and his family have expressed frustration with what they describe as “hastily arranged” and “inappropriate” travel demands, according to a report by MS NOW. Supervisors stated that some of Vance's requests are an "unprecedented use of government resources" compared to those of previous vice presidents, including Mike Pence and Kamala Harris.
One instance cited involved the planned use of Marine Two, a government helicopter, to transport Vance and one of his young sons to a golf lesson at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Although the trip was ultimately canceled due to weather, the request reportedly contributed to a decline in morale among agents assigned to the Vance family.
Operating Marine Two costs taxpayers an estimated $16,000 to $24,600 per hour, according to 2022 Defense Department budget estimates. The use of such resources requires authorization from the White House Military Office, which reports to President Donald Trump.
Sources familiar with the planned golf trip told MS NOW that such requests were unusual, with one stating, "Pence and Harris never pulled anything like that." The report also noted the alleged creation of custom coins and stickers by agents to mock the frequency of the Vance family’s last-minute travel, featuring the Secret Service code name "Bobcat."
In response to the claims, a spokesperson for Vance's office stated, "The Vances are grateful to the men and women of the U.S. Secret Service who serve our country with distinction." The statement continued, "While protecting a Vice President with a large policy portfolio and a young and growing family presents a unique challenge, agents of the Secret Service do so with excellence every day."
This report follows a recent confirmation by Democratic lawmakers, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Dick Durbin, that they have initiated a formal investigation into FBI Director Kash Patel's alleged use of public resources. Their inquiry, detailed in a May 5 letter from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, raises concerns about Patel's use of government aircraft, the purchase of luxury vehicles, and reimbursement for personal travel.