Julia Varvaro, a senior US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of having personal relationships and living the 'sugar baby' lifestyle.
Varvaro has been the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism since 2025 and is now being investigated after her ex-partner informed authorities that her actions might be a 'security risk.'
The investigation was prompted by an internal assessment following a complaint, which revealed that Varvaro had an exceptionally close contact with Paul Ingrassia, a controversial advisor to President Donald Trump.
Varvaro and Ingrassia shared a room during a work trip to Florida in July last year, prompting an investigation when coworkers accused him of manipulation.
Varvaro denied any misconduct, and the probe was eventually dismissed, but Ingrassia has denied wrongdoing and filed a defamation lawsuit against Politico for covering the hotel incident.
Two of Varvaro's ex-boyfriends have questioned her assertions, accusing her of going too far with Ingrassia, and Varvaro's Hinge date from December 2025, Robert Bianchi, told Daily Mail that Varvaro admitted to him that she occasionally felt uneasy about Ingrassia.
Bianchi filed a report with Inspector General early in April, claiming that Varvaro maintained a profile on a dating platform associated with 'sugar baby' arrangements and received expensive gifts, travel, and financial support during a short-lived relationship.
