Buttigieg Flew to NYC on Government Jet Before Returning to Washington Hours Later
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg used a taxpayer-funded plane to fly between New York City and Washington D.C. only to return a few hours later.
According to a Freedom of Information Act request filed on behalf of Americans for Public Trust, Buttigieg flew in early April on a jet operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that reportedly cost taxpayers only $228.
However, according to figures from Energy Information Administration, a federal agency, cited by Americans for Public Trust, the fuel alone for such a flight is estimated to be $1,060.
“As the self-described ‘second biggest fan of rail in the administration’ only behind the President, it’s laughable Secretary Buttigieg flew private to New York City to meet with the head of a liberal dark money group instead of taking Amtrak,” Caitlin Sutherland, the Executive Director of Americans for Public Trust, remarked in a statement.
“He clearly thinks his time is more valuable than the taxpayers, who are left not only dealing with the fallout of his travel mismanagement but are also left footing the bill for his taxpayer-funded jet. Despite admonishing the American public to reduce their carbon footprint, Buttigieg is once again prioritizing his convenience over the environment,” Sutherland added.
While in New York City, Buttigieg had a couple of meetings, one with Deborah Archer, president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as well as a radio appearance before heading back to Washington D.C. later on.
Last week, the Americans for Public Trust revealed that Buttigieg chartered a military jet to take him and his husband, Chasten, to the Invictus Games hosted in the Netherlands. Although the White House National Security Council noted that such travel was “standard practice” Buttigieg has traveled extensively since taking office in February 2021.
According to the New York Post, Buttigieg has flown nearly 20 times on private jets funded by taxpayer dollars as transportation secretary.
Similar instances of private travel on the part of government officials has resulted in resignations. Tom Price, then-secretary of health and human services (HHS) under Donald Trump was forced to resign after racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in inappropriate travel.
Buttigieg’s predecessor, Elaine Chao, was harshly criticized after using government planes seven times for costing tax payers $94,000.
