Exclusive: White House uses USAID funds for budget director Vought's security, documents show

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

February 13, 2026 6:02 AM EST Updated 3 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The White House budget office is using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's budget chief and an architect of the government overhaul that has cut thousands of federal jobs, according to three documents seen by Reuters.

The White House Office of Management and Budget, which Vought leads, is allocating $15 million of what remains of USAID operating expenses to cover the costs of his protection by the U.S. Marshals Service through the end of 2026, the documents showed.

A person familiar with the matter said that Vought's security detail comprises more than one dozen U.S. Marshals, which Reuters could not independently confirm. OMB did not make Vought available for interview. The Marshals Service did not comment on Vought specifically, saying it does not identify people under protection but it "typically seeks reimbursement by the supported agency."

Asked about the use of USAID funds, OMB spokesperson Rachel Cauley said in an email: "We are going to continue to use available funds at the three agencies overseen by the director to protect him." She apparently was referring to OMB, USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, of which Vought is the acting director.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-uses-usaid-funds-budget-director-voughts-security-documents-show-2026-02-13/

[hlthe2b]

1. So using the money intended for those hundreds of thousands (or more) he murdered to protect HIM.

May his Karma come quickly.

[Captain Zero]

2. It's going into personal accounts too

The Russian Oligarchs are their business model.

[Solly Mack]

3. Vile man. Vile regime. Just plain vile.

[Irish_Dem]

4. The Trump Crime Syndicate is stealing as much of the US Treasury as possible.

[Bayard]

5. I can't imagine why the Director of Office of Management and Budget,

Needs 12+ security people.

He must get a lot of threats.

[pfitz59]

9. He's a prime architect of Project 2025

a heinous fellow

[Hope22]

6. Let the trial begin!

Theft and murder. The children continue to die because of this! Starvation is too good of a sentence for these monsters!

[GB_RN]

7. Sounds...Oh, I Dunno...

Illegal? No.
Blatantly illegal. Yeah, that’s closer.

[OldBaldy1701E]

8. Protect him from what, exactly?

A nasty stare?

GODS, what snowflakes. Especially Russell Vought.

[RainCaster]

10. he must be in the Epstein Files

Why else would you need $15M for less than 2 years of security?

[OldBaldy1701E]

12. Oh, for sure.

And, I bet that he understands that, once the axe falls and these slime turn on each other, he will be a major target.

He will need that protection while he arranges to defect to... wherever... once their party and values implode.

[pfitz59]

11. Angry folks dying from his budget shenanigans

plenty of pissed, desperate folk.

[JT45242]

13. Misappropriation is supposed to be a crime

I'm sure they'll get right on prosecuting that.

[LudwigPastorius]

14. Well, if he didn't need $15 million worth of security before, he will now.

This is just the kind of callous, evil move that would set off a Luigi Mangione-esque type to try and seek justice.

[Hikerchick57]

15. And the us grift continues 😡