A watchdog group filed a complaint with the Office of Government Ethics over President Donald Trump’s cash gifts to aide Natalie Harp and two other White House employees, calling for an investigation into whether the payments were in “violation of criminal law.”
In its complaint, the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center said the $45,000 payments, which amount to roughly one-third of each aide’s $150,000 annual salary, appear to violate a federal statute that prohibits the supplementation of federal employees’ salaries from outside sources. If the ethics office determines that to be the case, the complaint states it should refer the matter to the Justice Department.
Financial disclosures released earlier this month, first reported by The Washington Post, show Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris each listing a $45,000 payment from Trump described as a “Cash Gift for Holidays.” Trump also gave director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta, who is paid $175,000 a year, a $20,000 cash gift around the same time, according to the disclosures.
Campaign Legal Center’s complaint alleges the payments each staffer received unlawfully raised their salaries above a $195,200 cap for senior full-time White House employees in 2025.
“The government salaries of Harp, Harris, Martin, and Nauta were lower than that maximum, owing to their junior titles and positions. However, the separate additional payments from the President appear to have supplemented their salaries, effectively
compensating them at a maximum government rate for which they were ineligible,” the complaint states.
More articles
Sydney Carruth is a breaking news reporter covering national politics and policy for MS NOW. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at SydneyCarruth.46 or follow her work on X and Bluesky.