Latest news with #Army Corps of Engineers
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JD Vance went kayaking for his birthday. Secret Service had the river level raised
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Vice President JD Vance's security detail had an Ohio river's water level raised last weekend to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday. The U.S. Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River, first reported by The Guardian, to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel 'could operate safely' while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati. But critics immediately blasted the action as a sign of the vice president's entitlement, particularly given the Trump administration's focus on slashing government spending. Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said on X that 'it's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.' The Corps of Engineers declined to address any financial impact of raising the river. Spokesman Gene Pawlik said the agency's Louisville District temporarily increased outflows from the Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami 'to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.' He said the move met operational criteria and fell within normal practice. 'It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,' he said in a statement. 'Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.' Vance's birthday was on Aug. 2. Vance spokesman Taylor Van Kirk said the vice president was unaware the river had been raised. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' she said via text. The sprawling 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake has an unlimited horsepower designation and five launch ramps, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. A marina, campground and lodge are also located on site. The department provided two natural resources officers to assist the Secret Service with the Vance event, spokesperson Karina Cheung said. The Vance family has already become accustomed to certain accommodations being made as they move about the world. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family's visit to India. Such special treatment isn't reserved for one political party. When Democratic Vice President Al Gore, then a presidential candidate, paddled down the Connecticut River for a photo opportunity in 1999, utility officials had opened a dam and released 4 billion gallons of water to raise the river's level. That request, too, came after a review of the area by the Secret Service — and Gore also experienced political pushback. Gore's campaign said at the time that he did not ask for the water to be released. ___ This story corrects the name of Vance's spokesperson. The spokesperson is Taylor Van Kirk. Solve the daily Crossword
Globe and Mail
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
JD Vance had the Secret Service raise a river so his family could go kayaking
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance's security detail had an Ohio river's water level raised last weekend to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday. The U.S. Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River, first reported by The Guardian, to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel 'could operate safely' while protecting the Republican Vice-President, whose home is in Cincinnati. But critics immediately blasted the action as a sign of the vice-president's entitlement, particularly given the Trump administration's focus on slashing government spending. Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said on X that 'it's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.' Trump says Vance 'most likely' to lead as Republican nominee in 2028 JD Vance gives Pope Leo XIV an invitation from Trump to visit U.S. The Corps of Engineers declined to address any financial impact of raising the river. Spokesman Gene Pawlik said the agency's Louisville District temporarily increased outflows from the Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami 'to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.' He said the move met operational criteria and fell within normal practice. 'It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,' he said in a statement. 'Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.' Vance's birthday was on Aug. 2. Vance spokesman Taylor Van Kirk said the vice-president was unaware the river had been raised. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' she said via text. The sprawling 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake has an unlimited horsepower designation and five launch ramps, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. A marina, campground and lodge are also located on site. The department provided two natural resources officers to assist the Secret Service with the Vance event, spokesperson Karina Cheung said. The Vance family has already become accustomed to certain accommodations being made as they move about the world. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family's visit to India. Such special treatment isn't reserved for one political party. When Democratic Vice President Al Gore, then a presidential candidate, paddled down the Connecticut River for a photo opportunity in 1999, utility officials had opened a dam and released four billion gallons of water to raise the river's level. That request, too, came after a review of the area by the Secret Service – and Gore also experienced political pushback. Gore's campaign said at the time that he did not ask for the water to be released.
CTV News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
JD Vance went kayaking for his birthday. Secret Service had the river level raised
COLUMBUS, Ohio — U.S. Vice President JD Vance's security detail had an Ohio river's water level raised last weekend to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday. The U.S. Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River, first reported by The Guardian, to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel 'could operate safely' while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati. But critics immediately blasted the action as a sign of the vice president's entitlement, particularly given the Trump administration's focus on slashing government spending. Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said on X that 'it's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.' The Corps of Engineers declined to address any financial impact of raising the river. Spokesman Gene Pawlik said the agency's Louisville District temporarily increased outflows from the Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami 'to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel.' He said the move met operational criteria and fell within normal practice. 'It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,' he said in a statement. 'Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.' Vance's birthday was on Aug. 2. Vance spokesman Taylor Van Kirk said the vice president was unaware the river had been raised. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the Vice President or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' he said via text. The sprawling 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake has an unlimited horsepower designation and five launch ramps, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. A marina, campground and lodge are also located on site. The department provided two natural resources officers to assist the Secret Service with the Vance event, spokesperson Karina Cheung said. The Vance family has already become accustomed to certain accommodations being made as they move about the world. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family's visit to India. Such special treatment isn't reserved for one political party. When Democratic Vice President Al Gore, then a presidential candidate, paddled down the Connecticut River for a photo opportunity in 1999, utility officials had opened a dam and released 4 billion gallons of water to raise the river's level. That request, too, came after a review of the area by the Secret Service — and Gore also experienced political pushback. Gore's campaign said at the time that he did not ask for the water to be released. Julie Carr Smyth, The Associated Press
The Independent
07-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ohio river's level raised to accommodate Vice President JD Vance's birthday kayaking trip
Vice President JD Vance 's security detail had an Ohio river's water level raised last week to accommodate a kayaking trip he and his family took to celebrate his 41st birthday. The U.S. Secret Service said it requested the increased waterflow for the Little Miami River, first reported by The Guardian, to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel 'could operate safely' while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati. But critics immediately blasted the action as a sign of the vice president's entitlement, particularly given the administration Trump administration's focus on slashing government spending. Richard W. Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said on X that 'it's outrageous for the Army corps of engineers to spend taxpayer money to increase water flow in a river so @VP can go canoeing when budget cuts to the National Park Service have severely impacted family vacations for everyone else.' The Corps of Engineers' Louisville District temporarily increased outflows from the Caesar Creek Lake in southwest Ohio into the Little Miami 'to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel,' said spokesperson Gene Pawlik. He said the move met operational criteria and fell within normal practice. 'It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels,' the corps said in a statement. 'Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.' Vance's birthday was on Aug. 2. The sprawling 2,830-acre Caesar Creek Lake has an unlimited horsepower designation and five launch ramps, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website. A marina, campground and lodge are also located on site. The department provided two natural resources officers to assist the Secret Service with the Vance event, spokesperson Karina Cheung said. The Vance family has already become accustomed to certain accommodations being made as they move about the world. During a recent trip to Italy, the Roman Colosseum was closed to the public so that his wife, Usha, and their children could take a tour, sparking anger among some tourists. The Taj Mahal also was closed to visitors during the Vance family's visit to India. Such special treatment isn't reserved for one political party. When Democratic Vice President Al Gore, then a presidential candidate, paddled down the Connecticut River for a photo opportunity in 1999, utility officials had opened a dam and released 4 billion gallons of water to raise the river's level. That request, too, came after a review of the area by the Secret Service — and Gore also experienced political pushback. Gore's campaign said at the time that he did not ask for the water to be released. A spokesman for Vance's office declined immediate comment.
E&E News
16-07-2025
- Business
- E&E News
House appropriators shield dam safety program from Trump cuts
House appropriators have rejected the Trump administration's proposal to eliminate a dam safety program that experts say is desperately needed and is just getting started after years of delays. The White House Office of Management and Budget proposed zeroing out funding in fiscal 2026 for the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program, an Army Corps of Engineers loan program to help finance costly repairs to dams and similar water infrastructure nationwide. The House Energy-Water spending bill released this week, however, would authorize $5 million for the program. While that is $2 million less than it received in fiscal 2025, it's enough to keep it alive and begin disbursing loans, said Aaron Snyder, the program's director. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Senate, which has been working on appropriations on a bipartisan basis, has yet to release its fiscal 2026 Energy-Water spending plan.
