New official travel revelations add to White House headaches
Bloomberg|
Sep 29, 2017, 11.39 PM IST
WASHINGTON: The White House's travel headache is growing with new revelations about top officials' use of military aircraft. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, whose use of taxpayer-funded private jets drew the ire of President Donald Trump, now faces scrutiny for using military jets that reportedly put his total travel tab above $1 million.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is also drawing attention, as a report said he took private or military planes at least four times, costing taxpayers more than $58,000.
And Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke chartered a domestic flight on a plane owned by energy executives, another report said. It all follows scrutiny of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's travel earlier this year, and threatens to distract from this week's rollout of a tax plan with heightened importance to Republicans after their failure to repeal Obamacare and fulfill a key campaign pledge.
Price used military planes — with White House approval — to travel to Africa, Europe and Asia this year, Politico reported Thursday. The trips were to discuss global health security and other issues with leaders in various countries, an HHS spokesperson said.
The news came hours after Price said he would reimburse taxpayers for a fraction of the cost of his domestic flights aboard private aircraft. Price will pay $51,887.31 for his share of the costs, according to HHS.
There were at least 26 private flights since February with costs totaling more than $400,000, Politico reported. The White House and HHS didn't immediately respond to requests for comment about the military flights.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said earlier the Trump administration has started a review of its travel policy, and has halted private air travel in the meantime.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is also drawing attention, as a report said he took private or military planes at least four times, costing taxpayers more than $58,000.
And Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke chartered a domestic flight on a plane owned by energy executives, another report said. It all follows scrutiny of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's travel earlier this year, and threatens to distract from this week's rollout of a tax plan with heightened importance to Republicans after their failure to repeal Obamacare and fulfill a key campaign pledge.
Price used military planes — with White House approval — to travel to Africa, Europe and Asia this year, Politico reported Thursday. The trips were to discuss global health security and other issues with leaders in various countries, an HHS spokesperson said.
The news came hours after Price said he would reimburse taxpayers for a fraction of the cost of his domestic flights aboard private aircraft. Price will pay $51,887.31 for his share of the costs, according to HHS.
There were at least 26 private flights since February with costs totaling more than $400,000, Politico reported. The White House and HHS didn't immediately respond to requests for comment about the military flights.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said earlier the Trump administration has started a review of its travel policy, and has halted private air travel in the meantime.
