The U.S. Secret Service confirmed Thursday that a member of Vice President Vance’s security detail is under investigation for allegedly leaking sensitive operational information to the press. The agent, assigned to the Vice Presidential Protective Division, has been placed on administrative leave pending both an internal administrative review and a potential criminal inquiry.
Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi stated, “A member of the Vice Presidential Protective Division is the subject of an administrative investigation, and potential criminal inquiry, involving allegations of compromising operational and information security.” He declined to provide further specifics but emphasized that “any conduct that potentially threatens the safety of a protectee will not be tolerated.”
The probe follows a report published last week by MS NOW that detailed growing discontent within Vance’s security detail over last-minute travel requests. According to the story, which cited unnamed Trump administration officials, the vice president and second lady Usha Vance have repeatedly pressed agents for sudden trips and assignments that some insiders consider an inappropriate use of government resources compared to previous vice presidents.
The original report noted that past vice presidents “eschewed using such expensive government perks for the convenience of their children’s schedule, and agents typically drove children locally in sports utility vehicles.” Current and former Secret Service personnel told the outlet that these “off-the-record” trips force agents to cancel personal plans and scramble to develop security protocols under tight deadlines.
“The detail is tired of them not giving notice on things and making everything an OTR,” one source familiar with the agents’ frustration told MS NOW. “He [Vance] thinks he can still move around like a U.S. Senator.” The dissatisfaction has reportedly led some agents to create custom coins and stickers mocking the vice president, using his Secret Service code name “Bobcat” on items reading “Bobcat OTR Survivors Club.”
CNN, which first reported the leak investigation, identified the agent on leave as the suspected source for the MS NOW story. The case echoes previous leak investigations that have targeted reporters covering national security matters. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice subpoenaed four New York Times journalists over leaks related to the Qatari-gifted jet for Air Force One and other security concerns. A DOJ spokesperson told The Hill at the time that “the reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are.”
The spokesperson added, “We recognize there may always be natural tension there, but we are not going to ignore the law and stop investigating the people who work in the administration and think it’s OK to leak classified information impacting national security.”
This latest investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of the Secret Service’s handling of internal leaks and security protocols. The agency has seen a surge in threat investigations, with director reports indicating a 40% increase in 2026. Meanwhile, the political climate surrounding leak probes remains charged, as the administration continues to pursue criminal referrals against unauthorized disclosures. The case also highlights ongoing tensions between the protective detail and the vice president’s office, raising questions about the balance between security and administrative demands.
