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Why several Trump officials are now living at military bases

ABC News Australia •
November 12, 2026 • 03:03 AM
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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent becomes the latest Trump official to move onto a military base following security concerns. Here's what to know.

Why several Trump officials are now living at military bases

Scott Bessent has moved to a military base following Iraninan threats against his life, sources say. ( Reuters: Kylie Cooper )

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is the latest senior Trump administration official to move onto a military base amid security threats, according to US media reports.

Sources have told Reuters the relocation followed Iranian threats against his life.

Here's what to know about the threats and who is living on military bases.

It comes at a time when Iranian plots against US personnel and American citizens are at an "advanced stage", according to a senior intelligence official for the Trump administration, in an internal memo seen by Reuters last month.

The severity of the alleged threats against Mr Bessent was not immediately clear when The New York Times first broke the news of his move.

The location of Scott Bessent's home was reportedly exposed in a news article last year. ( Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein )

However, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters that security concerns surrounding Mr Bessent began to rise after the Wall Street Journal reported last year that he had bought a mansion for $US12.5 million ($18.2 million).

The article included an aerial photo of the property, which the source said allowed it to be geolocated.

The source declined to address the timing of the government's decision to move Bessent.

Mr Bessent has led a US economic pressure campaign, known as Operation Economic Outcast , against Iran since August, which aims to pressure Tehran to end attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The campaign has included sanctions on Middle Eastern bank branches and other financial services firms facilitating transactions with Iran.

"The secretary will not be deterred by the Iranian regime's threats and remains committed to executing Operation Economic Outcast and maintaining the blockade, which together are collapsing Iran's economy," a US Treasury spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon during the war have killed thousands and displaced millions.

American and Israeli attacks have also killed top Iranian officials, including late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have been living two doors down from one another on Generals' Row at Fort McNair in Washington, DC.

Fort McNair has not traditionally housed political leaders, but several Trump officials have been living at the site due to security concerns, according to The Washington Post.

Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Stephen Miller, the newly appointed White House chief of staff, moved into military housing on Fort McNair.

Protesters opposing the Trump administration in March passed Fort McNair. ( Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein )

Former officials Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem were also reportedly living in military housing during their tenures.

The Atlantic previously reported that the number of Trump administration officials living in Washington-area military housing was putting a strain on the availability for uniformed officers.

Iran has previously denied plotting to attack officials and people on US soil.

The New York Times also reported US officials had noted that Iran's ability to carry out large-scale attacks in the US and other territories overseas was limited.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said last week it had lifted a self-imposed limit of 2,000 kilometres on the range of its ballistic missiles.

The extended range would put parts of Greece and the Balkans, the entire Arabian Peninsula, the Levant and most of Egypt within reach.

Iran is not known to have missiles that can go beyond this range, but US officials have said technology from Iran's space program could be repurposed to build intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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