DHS Official on Leave Over Sugar Dating Allegations

Julia Varvaro, a 29-year-old deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism at the Department of Homeland Security, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday following allegations that she maintained a profile on a sugar dating website and accepted substantial financial support from an older man during a personal relationship. The move came hours after reports detailed a complaint filed by her former partner, identified as Robert B., raising concerns about potential national security vulnerabilities tied to her finances and online activities.

Robert B., a divorced executive, claimed in his complaint to the DHS Office of Inspector General that he spent between $30,000 and $40,000 on Varvaro over a three-month relationship that began on the dating app Hinge in late 2025. According to the complaint, the expenditures included luxury vacations to Aruba, Italy, San Diego, and South Carolina, as well as Cartier jewelry, designer handbags, and shopping trips. He alleged that Varvaro told him her college education had been funded by previous "sugar daddies" and that $40,000 worth of jewelry she wore were "trophies" from such relationships. Robert B. further stated he observed her...