The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) doubled down on its security detail for Director Russell Vought in response to Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., objected to USAID funding being used to protect him, despite an assassination attempt on Vought earlier this year.
A letter from Mark Paoletta, OMB general counsel, to Krishnamoorthi obtained by The Federalist makes clear the threat level to Vought — exacerbated entirely by Democrats — and how Vought’s duties as senior advisor to USAID, as well as its former acting administrator, create a persistent security threat that requires 24/7 security.
“Your letter is the definition of chutzpah,” Paoletta told Krishnamoorthi. “The Left drives a systematic campaign to demonize Trump Administration officials like Director Vought that incites radical leftwing lunatics to violence. Then, the Left criticizes the Administration for taking the measures necessary to protect its officials from the violence that the Left encourages.”
Vought was the target of an assassination attempt outside his Arlington, Virginia, home earlier this year after “several credible death threats” against him. The would-be assassin cited common left-wing talking points like claiming Trump administration officials are part of a “fascist takeover.”
Those kinds of attacks come from some of the most prominent Democrats in the country, and are often meant to pre-justify violence against conservatives, as Paoletta pointed out:
The threat environment that Director Vought faces, however despicable, is not a surprise as the Left has engaged in the dangerous targeting of conservative public figures, who are routinely portrayed as existential threats to the country. Specifically, as to Director Vought, Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said, “Russell Vought is the tool of a dangerous elite.” Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley said Director Vought “is the most dangerous nominee put forward by Trump.” Democrat Senator Gary Peters said, “Russ Vought is dangerous.” Democrat Senator Jacky Rosen said, “Russell Vought is an extremist.” Democrat Representative Brendan Boyle stated that Director Vought’s nomination “is as dangerous as it gets . . . his views are a direct threat to our democracy.” Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Of all the harmful nominees, of all the extremists that Donald Trump has elevated, of all the hard-right ideologies who have come before the Senate, none of them hold a candle to Russell Vought. He is far and away the most dangerous to the American people.”
“Such statements by Democrat members are a part of a concerted effort to incite violence against Director Vought, and most certainly, toward President Trump,” he said.
Krishnamoorthi’s letter was concerned with the use of USAID funding to help pay for Vought’s security detail, calling it a “misuse of congressionally appropriated funds” that “undermines the mission of USAID and erodes confidence in the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
The Democrat was worried about $15 million going toward the U.S. Marshals Service security detail for Vought through the end of 2026, despite acknowledging that “protecting
government officials is a legitimate priority” and declining to mention the high threat level against Vought.
Ironically, Krishnamoorthi also had nothing to say about USAID’s massive waste, fraud, and abuse scandals. In fact, he strained to paint USAID in a positive light, while omitting much of its work.
“For over six decades, USAID has served as the cornerstone of America’s global humanitarian and development efforts, delivering food, health care, clean water, and economic opportunity to millions around the world,” Krishnamoorthi wrote. “Its mandate is to alleviate poverty, promote democratic governance, and stabilize vulnerable regions through non-military assistance. Redirecting funds away from these objectives to pay for domestic security operations deviates sharply from Congress’s intent and undermines the agency’s core purpose. This misuse of funds is fundamentally wrong and a gross abuse of power.”
But aside from that, as Paoletta notes, Vought’s 24/7 security detail was determined to be necessary by security officials, specifically after his designation as acting administrator of USAID.
“Director Vought continues to serve as a Senior Advisor at USAID and the security threat persists,” Paoletta wrote. “It is entirely appropriate for USAID to contribute a significant share to the funding of his security detail, particularly given the significant rise in threats due to his position at USAID.”
“These threats are designed to intimidate President Trump’s officials and Supreme Court Justices, to force them to compromise on their beliefs, and to give in to the Left’s radical demands,” Paoletta concluded. “But Director Vought, just like our great President, will never cave to radical Left wing threats and the public figures who encourage them. He is a true patriot who stands by his beliefs, no matter the personal cost.”
Breccan F. Thies is the White House correspondent for The Federalist. He is a co-recipient of the 2025 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. As an investigative journalist, he previously covered education and culture issues for the Washington Examiner and Breitbart News. He holds a degree from the University of Virginia and is a 2022 Claremont Institute Publius Fellow. You can follow him on X: @BreccanFThies.
