Democrat questions use of USAID funds for Trump budget chief’s security

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) – A Democratic lawmaker is questioning the use of funds from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for White House budget chief Russell Vought’s security, calling it “a gross abuse of power” and a deviation from their congressionally approved purpose.

Reuters reported on February 13 that the Office of Management and Budget has allocated more than $15 million from U.S. Agency for International Development operating expenses to cover the cost of Vought’s protection by the U.S. Marshals Service this year.

Referring to the Reuters report, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote in a letter to Vought on Wednesday that using the funds for his security detail “deviates sharply from Congress’s intent and undermines the agency’s core purpose.”

“The misuse of funds is fundamentally wrong and a gross abuse of power,” Krishnamoorthi said.

“The Left’s strategy is to fuel assassination culture against public officials then express shock about what it takes to keep them safe,” said OMB spokeswoman Rachel Cauley. “We are going to continue to use available funds at the three agencies overseen by the director to protect him.”

Cauley apparently was referring to the Consumer Financial Protection Board as the third agency. Vought is the acting CFPB director. He held the same acting post at USAID for nearly 90 days last year and a document reviewed by Reuters now lists him as a senior advisor there.

Trump last year ordered USAID’s closure, claiming without offering proof that it was rife with corruption. Thousands of personnel and contractors were fired and programs closed, throwing U.S.-funded global aid programs into turmoil.

A skeleton crew is closing out USAID’s remaining contracts and is due to shut the 64-year-old agency for good by September.

Krishnamoorthi asked Vought to disclose details of the USAID funds being used to pay for his security, including their “original congressional intent” and whether the budget chief had notified Congress that they had been reallocated.

Krishnamoorthi also asked whether other White House funding sources were considered and who authorized the USAID funds to be used to cover the costs of his protection.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Douglas Gillison; Editing by Don Durfee, Rod Nickel and David Gregorio)