Donald Trump’s budget director has become the latest official from his administration to receive a death threat, adding to a growing list of such incidents.

Colin Demarco, a 26-year-old from Maryland, was taken into custody on January 22 by Arlington County Police. He faces attempted murder charges after a five-month investigation that began following a suspicious occurrence last summer.

In August, Demarco reportedly visited the Northern Virginia residence of Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under the pretense of seeking employment. He was wearing a surgical mask and gloves at the time, court documents reveal.

Demarco, fearing that Trump’s re-election would result in what he saw as a “fascist takeover,” allegedly penned notes plotting to kill an individual with the initials “R.V.” This person was described as a “presidential appointee,” although Vought’s name was not specifically mentioned in the complaint.

Court documents indicate that the intended victim was linked to Project 2025, a conservative, Heritage Foundation-backed plan for Trump’s potential second term. This initiative aims to reorganize the federal government by centralizing more power within the executive branch.

Vought, a key figure in this blueprint, has been a polarizing figure due to his involvement in orchestrating widespread layoffs across the federal government during Trump’s initial year back in office.

‘We are grateful for the work of law enforcement in keeping Director Vought and his family safe,’ an OMB spokesperson said in a statement on the arrest and charges against Demarco.

Colin Demarco, 26, of Rockville, Maryland was arrested January 22 by Arlington County Police on charges of attempted murder

He was tracked down after an investigation into a Ring doorbell camera outside OMB Director Russel Vought’s Virginia home in August allegedly showed Demarco in a surgical mask, gloves, sunglasses and carrying a backpack

It’s not the first time a Trump official has faced threats on their lives.

In late March and early April last year, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and her husband Abraham Williams were sent threatening texts by Aliakbar Mohammad Amin, 24, from Lilburn, Georgia. 

Messages said they would ‘die soon’ and claimed the DNI was ‘living on borrowed time.’

In mid-August, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had to relocate from her home in DC to secure military base housing due to a ‘surge in death threats’ following the doxxing of her residential address.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. also reportedly has government protection due to threats he’s received.

Vought is the creator of Schedule F, a regulatory plan reclassifying thousands of employees so it’s easier to fire them from federal government roles.

Since joining the administration and leading the firing agenda, Vought has been the subject of numerous violent threats, court filings note. The US Marshal Service is now providing a security detail for Vought due to the volume of these threats and the alleged attempted murder.

Demarco is due to appear in court on February 23 for several criminal charges.

The US Marshals discovered several notes the young Maryland man drafted detailing a weapons stash and a ‘Body Disposal Guide,’ though no weapons were found upon a search of his room back in August.

The criminal complaint against Demarco notes he was captured on a Ring doorbell camera at the front door of Vought’s home in Arlington on August 10, 2025. He was wearing a mask, gloves and sunglasses to conceal his identity and was carrying a backpack.

Video showed him looking through the OMB Director’s mailbox and approaching a neighbor.

The neighbor told investigators that Demarco asked if anyone was currently at the home and they claim he appeared to have a firearm tucked into his waistband under his shirt.

Demarco admitted to investigators that he was going to Vought’s home to confront him about Project 2025 and said the 2024 election was ‘the lowest point in his life’

Documents note that the person who interacted with the suspect initially identified the wrong person, but US Marshals were later able to identify Demarco and interview him at his home in Rockville, Maryland.

Demarco told investigators he traveled to Arlington because he was looking for a job, according to the complaint. But he eventually admitted he was going to Vought’s home to confront him about Project 2025 and told agents the last presidential election was ‘the lowest point in his life’ and feared an ‘impending war and a fascist takeover.’

He denied having a gun or harmful intent – but did express admiration for suspected United Healthcare assassin Luigi Mangione.

A search warrant for Demarco’s iCloud account shows a series of writings including a ‘Body Disposal Guide’ detailing steps to ‘always wear rubber gloves’ and ‘make an airtight alibi.’

One note titled ‘Dad’s Gun Stash,’ Demarco wrote about a .357 Magnum Colt revolver (FULLY PRE-LOADED!).’