Vance Family Prepares for Naval Observatory Move Amid Harris Transition Tensions

WASHINGTON — When Sen. JD Vance, his wife Usha, and their three young children move into the Naval Observatory residence on Jan. 20, it will mark their first time inside the historic white Queen Anne-style mansion that has housed vice presidents since the 1970s. However, Vice President Kamala Harris has not extended an invitation for a formal sit-down or tour, according to multiple Democratic and Republican sources familiar with the matter.

In November, Usha Vance, through intermediaries, reached out to staff for Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, seeking details about childproofing the residence for their children—Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel, all under the age of eight. The initial inquiry was rebuffed by a Harris political appointee, but communication has since resumed with Navy aides overseeing the residence.

Before Christmas, Navy officials provided the Vance family with an overview of the house, discussing its layout, logistics, and practicalities of the move-in process, according to a person familiar with the call. Last week, Usha Vance also spoke with Emhoff for about 40 minutes, sources said. Harris’ team has indicated that arrangements are underway to accommodate the Vance children.

Spokespeople for both Vance and Harris declined to comment on the matter. However, sources close to Harris noted that she was never afforded an opportunity to visit the residence before her swearing-in in 2021, a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and former President Donald Trump‘s refusal to concede the election.

Advisers to then-Vice President Mike Pence dispute claims that an invitation was never offered, stating that Pence quietly extended an opportunity for Harris and Emhoff to visit the residence in the final days of the Trump administration. The invitation was discreet due to Trump’s resistance to accommodating the incoming administration. No formal sit-down between Pence and Harris ever occurred, according to sources from both parties.

Harris’ decision not to invite Vance to visit has drawn criticism, particularly as it breaks with a tradition upheld in previous administrations. In 2016, then-Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, hosted the Pences at the residence shortly after the election. “We’re just very grateful for the hospitality today of the vice president and second lady,” Pence said at the time.

Harris and Emhoff did not move into the Naval Observatory residence until April 2021, nearly three months after being sworn in, due to necessary repairs to the property. The Vance family’s upcoming move highlights the complexities of political transitions and the traditions—or lack thereof—that accompany them.