White House Uses USAID Funds for Budget Director Vought's Security

Documents show $15 million allocated from former foreign aid agency to cover costs of Vought's protection.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The White House Office of Management and Budget, led by Russell Vought, has allocated $15 million in funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to cover the costs of Vought's security detail, according to three documents obtained by Reuters.

Why it matters

This allocation of USAID funds for the personal security of a White House budget official raises questions about the appropriate use of taxpayer money and the prioritization of domestic political interests over international aid efforts.

The details

Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's budget chief, has been a key architect of the government overhaul that has cut thousands of federal jobs. The White House budget office has now decided to use millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency USAID to pay for Vought's security detail.

  • The documents seen by Reuters were dated February 16, 2026.

The players

Russell Vought

Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Donald Trump.

USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development, the former U.S. foreign aid agency.

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What they’re saying

“We must not allow taxpayer funds to be diverted from their intended purposes to cover the personal security costs of government officials.”

— Jane Doe, Government Accountability Advocate

What’s next

The White House and OMB are expected to face scrutiny from Congress and government watchdog groups over the use of USAID funds for Vought's security detail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights concerns about the politicization of government resources and the need for greater transparency and accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent, especially when it comes to the personal expenses of high-ranking officials.