US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has recently moved from his Washington, DC residence to a US military base due to Iranian threats against his life, according to two people familiar with the matter. The New York Times first reported the relocation.
The move follows a period of heightened security concerns. A source familiar with the matter stated that concerns increased after the Wall Street Journal published an aerial view of the Georgetown mansion Bessent purchased for US$12.5 million shortly after his confirmation as Treasury secretary in January 2025. The source said the photo allowed Bessent’s home to be geolocated, and Bessent was relocated to a military base for his safety, adding: “The news media has an obligation to act responsibly amid growing threats against public officials.”
The New York Times reported that the severity of the threats against Bessent was not immediately clear. However, a senior intelligence official in the Trump administration warned in a memo seen by Reuters late last month that Iranian plots against American citizens and US personnel had reached an advanced stage. Iran has previously denied plotting to attack people or officials on US soil.
Bessent has led a sanctions and economic pressure campaign against Iran since August, known as Operation Economic Outcast. The goal of the operation is to force Tehran to stop attacks on shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. The campaign, which includes a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, has targeted Middle Eastern bank branches and financial services firms that facilitate transactions with Iran.
A US Treasury spokesperson said in an emailed statement, “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.”
Bessent is not the only official to move; the New York Times reported that White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and former attorney general Pam Bondi have also been moved previously.
The New York Times also reported that US officials have noted Iran's ability to carry out large-scale attacks in the US and other overseas territories is limited. During the ongoing war, US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions. These attacks have also killed top Iranian officials, including the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
