Helicopter For A Golf Lesson? Secret Service Boils Over Vance Family’s ‘Unusual’ Demands

Published 16 July 2026 · india

Helicopter For A Golf Lesson? Secret Service Boils Over Vance Family’s ‘Unusual’ Demands Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 20:58 IST Secret Service agents

Helicopter For A Golf Lesson? Secret Service Boils Over Vance Family’s ‘Unusual’ Demands Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 20:58 IST Secret Service agents are frustrated with VP Vance’s frequent, last-minute travel demands, including a scrapped helicopter trip for his son, raising cost and morale concerns Rapid Read JD Vance and his family's frequent and unusual requests for travel has frustrated the US Secret Service. (Image source: Reuters) Secret Service agents of the United States have, reportedly, grown frustrated at the unusual and frequent service requests by the American Vice President and his family. Last Thursday they had to prepare to arrange a military helicopter ride for Vance’s young son to attend a golf lesson. The plan involved using Marine Two, the helicopter assigned to the vice president, as reported by MS Now. The trip had to be canceled at the last minute due to strong and high winds in the Washington, D.C. area. Vance had planned to travel with his son to Joint Base Andrews.

The base includes a high-end golf facility, according to officials familiar with his schedule. Agents voiced concerns about the request. Many felt the trip was not appropriate. The complaints point to growing morale issues within the team protecting Vance and his family. Some agents said Vance’s office often asks for trips that seem unusual. They believe these requests go beyond what past vice presidents have asked for. Frustration has also grown over sudden travel changes. Agents said they often receive last-minute requests from Vance and his wife, Usha Vance. This has left many feeling “fed up," said sources quoted by MS Now. The Vance family lives at the Naval Observatory. They are the first vice presidential family with young children to do so in over 25 years, since Al Gore, the report noted. There is no rule banning helicopter use for a vice president’s child. However, current and former supervisors, quoted in the report, said such a request has no precedent.

They added that past vice presidents avoided using costly government resources for their children’s activities. Instead, agents usually drove children in SUVs. Vance’s office responded with a statement. It thanked Secret Service agents for their service. It also said protecting a vice president with a young family creates unique challenges. The White House Military Office would need to approve helicopter use. Operating the aircraft can cost between $16,000 and $24,600 per hour, based on Defense Department estimates cited in the report. One person familiar with the plan strongly criticized the idea. They said past leaders like Mike Pence and Kamala Harris never made such requests. The Vances have also made several last-minute helicopter trips to Middleburg, Virginia. They used these trips while searching for a new home. The couple has three children and is expecting a fourth later this month, the report added. Agents said past officials usually gave advance notice for travel. This helped security teams prepare properly.