US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Relocated to Military Base Amid Security Concerns

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has relocated from his Washington-area residence to an undisclosed US military base following security concerns and threats to his life, according to media reports citing sources familiar with the matter. Security around Bessent heightened after media outlets published aerial photographs of his Georgetown residence, which sources stated allowed the property to be geo-located.

Bessent is one of several senior Trump administration figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who have left their personal homes to reside on military bases or in protected housing. US National Intelligence Chief Jay Clayton warned last month that Tehran had substantially increased efforts to target Americans in the Middle East and beyond, intensifying plots against current and former US officials.

Anonymous sources told the New York Times that Iranian plotting against US officials had reached a more advanced stage, though the precise severity of the threats against Bessent remained unclear. Iran has previously denied plotting to attack individuals on United States soil. A US intelligence memo seen by Reuters late last month similarly warned that Iranian plots against US citizens had reached an advanced stage.

Since August, Bessent has led a US economic pressure campaign against Iran titled Operation Economic Outcast, alongside a naval blockade of Iranian ports established after a US and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28. The measures aim to halt attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A US Treasury spokesperson stated that the secretary would not be deterred by the threats and remained committed to executing the campaign and maintaining the blockade.

Amid ongoing regional tensions, Washington ordered non-essential US embassy staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia last month due to increasing attacks from Houthi fighters. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are underway, with Rubio stating that US economic pressure on Iran had made further attacks unnecessary.