The controversy comes after reports found that his office had requested the Army Corps of Engineers change the outflow of Caesar Creek Lake. The conversion occurred on August 1, 2025, and resulted in perfect conditions for free-range kayaking. It just so occurred that this was the day of Vance’s 41st birthday party.
The request was made only a day before Vance was famously spotted canoeing the region’s waters on August 2. Notifications were sent to downstream stakeholders about the small increase in outflow. Unlike the supposed announcement to enact the policy, no public announcement preceded the dramatic adjustment. This great lack of transparency has raised serious concern over whether taxpayers’ dollars should be used by public officials for personal recreational activities like golf.
The outflow adjustment wasn’t limited to Vance and his Secret Service detail. Its ultimate intention was to create a better experience for all Americans using the water for recreation and leisure activity. Critics say this case underscores a larger ethical issue with elected officials using government resources for personal gain.
Last year, the Army Corps of Engineers’ Louisville district announced a “special release” at the request of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They backtracked on that announcement soon after. Vance’s request in particular has drawn a critical eye. This is particularly the case in light of the administration’s draconian cuts to federal funding for nearly every program to assist people. Those cuts encompass eliminating all foreign aid, all scientific research, and cutting National Park Service budgets by over 50%.
Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer, stated, “Those cuts are directly impacting middle-class families’ vacations,” highlighting the disparity faced by average citizens who do not receive similar accommodations. He added, “What he ought to be doing is choosing another place.”
Norm Eisen, a former White House special counsel for ethics and government reform, expressed disbelief that such a request was made at all. My moniker was ‘Mr No’ and I would have definitely lived up to that in this context. I would never put up with something like this. While it may not technically be breaking any rules, it sure seems like the vice president is receiving some preferential treatment that the average person cannot receive when it comes to using that stretch of water for recreation.
When asked for comment in light of the incident, Vance’s office did not return a statement. The senator’s behavior has sparked national conversations about the ethics of public officials and their use of taxpayer-funded government resources.