For most people, a day at the lake means simply finding a spot and enjoying the water. For Vice President JD Vance, however, reports suggest his 41st birthday celebration at Caesar Creek Lake in Ohio involved a questionable use of government resources.
According to The Guardian, Vance’s team requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adjust the lake’s outflow to create favorable conditions for his gathering. While such changes can sometimes be made to prevent flooding or improve safety, sources told the outlet that the purpose in this instance was to ensure “ideal kayaking conditions” and accommodate U.S. Secret Service personnel.
In effect, the vice president’s party featured a man-made alteration of lake levels for recreational purposes.
The decision drew sharp criticism, particularly given ongoing debates over public land management and resource allocation under the Trump administration. Despite efforts to generate new revenue for the National Park Service, significant staffing reductions have left the agency struggling. A report by the National Parks Conservation Association found that “since the Trump administration took office, the National Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent staff … The park staff who remain are being asked to do more with less, and it’s simply not sustainable.”
Although no laws appear to have been broken, ethics experts say the optics are troubling. The Guardian interviewed Norm Eisen, former White House special counsel for ethics and government reform, and Richard Painter, who served as ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration. Both questioned Vance’s actions.
Painter described the move as “pretty outrageous,” while Eisen added: “I never would have permitted this kind of a thing. It creates the appearance that the vice president of the United States is getting special treatment.” He further argued: “While there may well be security-related explanations or justifications that come into the analysis, my reaction is: I don’t care. We shouldn’t be utilizing government resources in this way.”
