Trump Renews Fort Knox Audit Call After Ex-CIA Official Faces Gold Theft Charges
Trump renewed his push for a bodily inspection of Fort Knox after a former senior CIA official was charged with stealing greater than 300 gold bars price over $40 million from the federal authorities.
The costs have intensified scrutiny over how the US tracks and verifies its gold holdings. Fort Knox has not undergone an impartial public audit since 1974.
CIA Official Charged With Stealing $40 Million in Gold Bars
David Rush, a former senior executive-level CIA worker with top-secret clearance, was arrested on May 19 and charged with prison theft of public cash, per federal court docket filings in Virginia.
Between November and March, Rush requested and acquired a big amount of gold bars and international foreign money for work-related bills, in keeping with an FBI affidavit. What he supposed to do with these funds stays unclear.
Federal brokers searched his house on May 18 and seized greater than 300 gold bars valued at over $40 million, roughly $2 million in US foreign money, and 35 luxurious watches. Authorities arrested him the next day.
The FBI, working with the CIA and the Department of Justice, decided there was possible trigger to imagine Rush had stolen and transformed authorities property for private use. His lawyer declined to remark.
Investigators additionally discovered Rush had allegedly fabricated his skilled background, together with false claims of being a Navy pilot and holding levels from two universities.
Trump Calls for Fort Knox Inspection
The arrest drew instant political consideration. Trump posted on Truth Social, linking the case to Fort Knox audit questions he has raised since early 2025.
Trump addressed the Fort Knox query in a May 10 interview, saying he nonetheless desires to confirm the contents of the depository himself.
“I do wish to go to Fort Knox someday. I wish to see if the gold is there, which I’m certain it is going to be.”
Fort Knox holds roughly 147 million ounces of gold, about 59% of the US official reserves, with an estimated worth of round $700 billion. The reserve’s scale has amplified curiosity in tokenized gold crypto markets, which gained traction throughout gold’s 2026 rally.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has dismissed the considerations. He stated that each one gold is current and that the Treasury conducts annual inner audits. He has invited any member of Congress to go to and confirm.
No authority has introduced a proper inspection timeline. The Department of Government Efficiency, which beforehand floated the thought of an audit, has not adopted up with a concrete plan.
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