A high-ranking official at the Department of Homeland Security has been suspended following allegations that she solicited tens of thousands of dollars from “sugar daddies.”

A formal complaint was filed against Julia Varvaro, a 29-year-old counterterrorism official, accusing her of keeping transactional relationships that posed a security riskThe Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.

She was appointed to her senior position in May 2025, shortly after earning a degree in Homeland Security from St. John’s University. Varvaro has attended several MAGA events and has been photographed with Donald Trump.

The complaint, filed with the DHS inspector general, was submitted by an executive identified as “Robert B,” who said he spent approximately $40,000 on Varvaro during the course of their three‑month relationship after they met on Hinge.

    • Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca
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      20 hours ago

      I know a few 29 year old folks that would be infinitely better qualified than half the jackasses on this administration.

    • chuckleslord@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      … what? What about that fact is fishy? Her age isn’t the issue, it’s how soon after graduating that she became a senior official but that’s got jack to do with her age

      • Windex007@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        Statistically, “top of your field” is a high enough bar that even 10 years of experience doesn’t put you there.

        It’s not impossible, but it is fishy. Unless she graduated at age 9.

        • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
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          20 hours ago

          “Top official”, however, means high ranking, not high skill. Just means someone in the Trump admin decided to put her in a high position. These positions probably get swapped out every time there’s a new presidency (Trump’s not gonna use Biden’s people and Biden probably threw out a lot of Trump’s people) so anyone taking the job needs to be either hungry for experience or passionate enough about national security, that they don’t mind having a job for 4 years and then being told to fuck off.

          Spending all that time getting a Doctorate in national security and also being 29 means she’s probably both.