Bessent Is Moved From D.C.-Area Home to Military Base Amid Iranian Threats

NY Times-Nov11th2026

By Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently moved out of his home and onto a military base after Iranian threats against his life, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

U.S. officials concluded in recent weeks that Iranian plotting against current and former American officials had reached a more advanced stage, based in part on intelligence about threats to Mr. Bessent, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive information.

Since August, Mr. Bessent has led an economic pressure campaign meant to isolate Iran financially through tougher sanctions and restrictions on trade routes. That role has made him one of the administration officials that Iran most wants to harm, the people said.

The severity of the threats to him is unclear. Iran’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks in the United States and other territories overseas is limited, U.S. officials have noted. But there have been specific, targeted threats made by Iran against individuals that U.S. officials have deemed serious, such as a murder-for-hire plot against President Trump during the 2024 campaign.

In a statement, a Treasury Department spokesperson said Mr. Bessent “will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats,” adding that he remains committed to executing the campaign to squeeze Iran’s economy.

Mr. Bessent is the latest senior Trump administration official to leave a Washington-area home for a military base or other protected housing. At least half a dozen did so last year, including Stephen Miller, now the White House chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, then the attorney general.