The growing security concerns surrounding senior officials of President Donald Trump’s administration have prompted another high-profile relocation, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent moving from his private residence into a military base following reported threats from Iran.
Bessent’s relocation makes him the third serving member of Trump’s Cabinet reported to have taken up residence in military accommodation amid heightened concerns over possible Iranian attacks against American officials.
According to The New York Times, three people familiar with the matter said intelligence concerning threats against Bessent contributed to a broader assessment by US officials that Iranian efforts to target current and former American officials had become more advanced.
The Treasury Secretary’s move comes as he spearheads Washington’s economic campaign against Tehran, coordinating sanctions and restrictions on trade routes intended to weaken Iran’s financial capacity.
A Treasury Department spokesperson, responding to the development, said Bessent would not be intimidated by threats from the Iranian government and remained committed to implementing the administration’s economic pressure strategy.
The reported relocation follows similar arrangements involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reside at Fort McNair, a military installation in Washington traditionally reserved for senior military officers.
Other senior administration officials have also sought protected accommodation over security concerns. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem moved into military housing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling after the location of her Washington apartment became public.
White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and his family also relocated to military accommodation following protests and security concerns outside their Arlington, Virginia, residence.
However, the circumstances surrounding the various relocations differ, with some linked to public protests, disclosure of private addresses and other security concerns rather than Iranian threats.
The latest development comes amid growing American concerns over Tehran’s alleged efforts to retaliate against officials associated with the January 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
In 2024, US federal prosecutors charged Farhad Shakeri, whom they described as an operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, over an alleged plot to assassinate Trump. Prosecutors linked the alleged operation to Iranian retaliation for Soleimani’s killing.
Washington has maintained that Iran’s capacity to execute large-scale attacks on American soil remains limited, although officials continue to treat specific threats against individuals seriously.
The security alert has also extended beyond Washington.
Last month, the Trump administration reportedly heightened security measures for some American personnel in the Middle East and reduced staffing at selected diplomatic missions following intelligence about possible attacks.
The US military also reportedly moved bombers from a British base following concerns about a suspected terrorist plot.
Meanwhile, Bessent’s position at the centre of Washington’s economic confrontation with Tehran has further drawn attention to his security.
Since August, the Treasury Department has intensified sanctions and restrictions targeting Iran’s trade networks and financial resources, particularly those linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The administration maintains that the measures are weakening Iran’s currency and worsening economic conditions, although American intelligence assessments suggest that economic pressure alone may not force Tehran’s hard-line leadership to relinquish power.
The Atlantic reported in October 2025 that at least six senior political appointees were living in Washington-area military housing, raising concerns about increased pressure on accommodation traditionally designated for senior military personnel.
It remains unclear how long Bessent will remain in military accommodation or whether further changes to his security arrangements are being considered.
