A Department of Homeland Security counterterrorism official has been placed on administrative leave as the agency investigates allegations from a former boyfriend who claims she took tens of thousands of dollars from him and posed a national “security risk.”
Julia Varvaro, 29, was put on leave Wednesday after her ex filed a complaint with DHS alleging she bilked him out of roughly $40,000 during their three-month relationship.
“Julia Varvaro is on administrative leave as a result of the investigation and she is no longer serving in her capacity as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at DHS,” the DHS said in a statement.
The ex, described as a decades-older, divorced business executive identified only as Robert B., claimed he spent $30,000 to $40,000 on the relationship before concluding he had become a financial backer rather than a boyfriend.
“I did not want a sugar daddy/prostitution relationship, after spending $30,000-$40,000 for vacations, Cartier jewelry, expensive handbags, and various shopping trips,” Robert B. wrote in his DHS complained, according to the Daily Mail.
“She also told me directly that the $40,000 worth of jewelry on her wrists and ears are all trophies from her sugar daddies,” Robert B. added. “I believe that she’s under financial stress and that her actions pose a security risk.”
Robert B. told the Daily Mail the pair met on the dating app Hinge in December and traveled extensively, including a trip to Italy, Switzerland and Aruba, which he said he paid for.
He also claimed Varvaro pushed for high-end dining and luxury shopping.
Another Trump Team Embarrassment
🇺🇸 DHS Counterterrorism Official Julia Varvaro Under Investigation Over ‘Sugar Daddy’ Complaint
Varvaro, 29, Trump’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism, is facing a formal DHS Inspector General complaint after a man claims he spent… pic.twitter.com/HGRifjYE27
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) April 22, 2026
“Everywhere we went, she’d always order the most expensive things on the menu, like the Wagyu premier cut of Japanese beef,” he told the Mail, adding he spent $1,400 on their first date.
He alleged Varvaro insisted their Aruba hotel was not good enough, telling him, “She was like, ‘This is nice, but it’s not the Ritz,’” and claimed she bought a “souvenir” at the hotel’s Cartier store after he upgraded their stay.
Robert B. also alleged Varvaro pressed him to cover rent during the DHS shutdown and asked for a credit card, which he said he refused.
“I’m not used to having to ask like this for a simple card or help with my rent especially being furloughed,” she texted Robert, according to the Mail. “Any past relationship would’ve jumped up and cared for me, which is what I like.”
He said he pushed back.
“I was like: ‘You know that’s not happening because I see how you like to shop,’” he said. “That got me the cold shoulder.”
Varvaro denied the allegations and said the complaint was retaliation from a former partner.
“This is just a mad ex-boyfriend putting crap together. And it’s just really weird,” she told the Mail.
“I thought it was a great relationship until we just didn’t work, and that was it,” she added.
“If we made a story about every failed short relationship in DC, this town would implode.”
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