JD Vance faces backlash over river level adjustment for kayaking trip
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 07, 2025, 23:05 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Highlight of the story: Vice President JD Vance faces criticism. Reports say his team asked for higher Ohio river levels. This was for his kayaking trip. The Army Corps of Engineers adjusted water flow. Critics question using public resources. They cite ethics concerns. Past ethics officials call it inappropriate. This adds to scrutiny of Vance's travels. The incident sparks debate on official privilege.
Vice President JD Vance is under scrutiny following reports that his team requested an increase in Ohio river water levels to create ideal conditions for a personal kayaking trip during his birthday. The move, while reportedly made for the safety of his Secret Service detail, has drawn criticism from ethics experts and former officials who question the appropriateness of using public resources for personal comfort.
The incident occurred on August 2, when Vance was kayaking along the Little Miami River during a family vacation in southwest Ohio. According to reports by The Guardian, the vice president's staff contacted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to alter outflows from Caesar Creek Lake—an upstream reservoir that feeds into the river. The goal, according to unnamed sources, was to ensure the river had the right depth to allow secure navigation for the Secret Service while also providing "ideal" kayaking conditions for Vance.
Public records from the U.S. Geological Survey show a noticeable rise in the river’s level and a corresponding drop in Caesar Creek Lake’s water elevation during the period of Vance’s visit. In a statement to The Guardian, Gene Pawlik, a spokesperson for the Army Corps, confirmed that a request was made to “temporarily increase outflows” from the lake in order to support the safe operation of Secret Service personnel. He added that the request met all operational guidelines and did not require deviation from standard procedures outlined in the lake’s Water Control Manual.
The agency emphasized that the minor outflow adjustment, carried out on August 1, had no adverse impact on upstream or downstream water levels, and that all relevant stakeholders had been notified in advance.
Despite the explanation, the decision has triggered political and ethical backlash. Critics argue that such adjustments, even if technically within the rules, reinforce perceptions of special treatment and undermine public trust—especially at a time when federal agencies like the National Park Service face significant budget cuts.
Richard Painter, former chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, called the move “outrageous,” criticizing the use of taxpayer-funded infrastructure for what appeared to be a leisure activity. Norman Eisen, who served as ethics counsel to President Barack Obama, said that while the request may not breach specific regulations, it “creates the appearance that the vice president is getting special treatment not available to the average citizen.”
This incident adds to a growing list of controversies involving the vice president’s personal travel. In recent months, Vance has faced protests at various vacation spots, including Disneyland and a ski resort in Vermont. His upcoming visit to the Cotswolds in the United Kingdom is already drawing attention, with political observers expecting continued public scrutiny.
Though there is no suggestion that Vance or his staff violated any laws, the episode has reignited debate about the boundaries between official responsibilities and personal privileges for high-ranking officials. For many, the focus is not just on the kayaking trip itself, but on what it symbolizes in terms of transparency, ethics, and the use of public resources.
The incident occurred on August 2, when Vance was kayaking along the Little Miami River during a family vacation in southwest Ohio. According to reports by The Guardian, the vice president's staff contacted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to alter outflows from Caesar Creek Lake—an upstream reservoir that feeds into the river. The goal, according to unnamed sources, was to ensure the river had the right depth to allow secure navigation for the Secret Service while also providing "ideal" kayaking conditions for Vance.
Public records from the U.S. Geological Survey show a noticeable rise in the river’s level and a corresponding drop in Caesar Creek Lake’s water elevation during the period of Vance’s visit. In a statement to The Guardian, Gene Pawlik, a spokesperson for the Army Corps, confirmed that a request was made to “temporarily increase outflows” from the lake in order to support the safe operation of Secret Service personnel. He added that the request met all operational guidelines and did not require deviation from standard procedures outlined in the lake’s Water Control Manual.
The agency emphasized that the minor outflow adjustment, carried out on August 1, had no adverse impact on upstream or downstream water levels, and that all relevant stakeholders had been notified in advance.
Despite the explanation, the decision has triggered political and ethical backlash. Critics argue that such adjustments, even if technically within the rules, reinforce perceptions of special treatment and undermine public trust—especially at a time when federal agencies like the National Park Service face significant budget cuts.
Richard Painter, former chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, called the move “outrageous,” criticizing the use of taxpayer-funded infrastructure for what appeared to be a leisure activity. Norman Eisen, who served as ethics counsel to President Barack Obama, said that while the request may not breach specific regulations, it “creates the appearance that the vice president is getting special treatment not available to the average citizen.”
This incident adds to a growing list of controversies involving the vice president’s personal travel. In recent months, Vance has faced protests at various vacation spots, including Disneyland and a ski resort in Vermont. His upcoming visit to the Cotswolds in the United Kingdom is already drawing attention, with political observers expecting continued public scrutiny.
Though there is no suggestion that Vance or his staff violated any laws, the episode has reignited debate about the boundaries between official responsibilities and personal privileges for high-ranking officials. For many, the focus is not just on the kayaking trip itself, but on what it symbolizes in terms of transparency, ethics, and the use of public resources.