Pete Buttigieg often flies on taxpayer-funded private jets, flight data show

[mystery-ak]

Published December 12, 2022 2:00am EST
Pete Buttigieg often flies on taxpayer-funded private jets, flight data show
Biden Cabinet member has taken at least 18 flights on taxpayer-funded private jets, despite calls to curb carbon emissions

By Thomas Catenacci | Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, an advocate of increased government action to curb carbon emissions, has taken at least 18 flights using taxpayer-funded private jets since taking office, Fox News Digital has learned.

Buttigieg has traveled across the country — visiting Florida, Ohio and New Hampshire, among other states — and out of the country using a private jet fleet managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to flight tracking data reviewed by Fox News Digital. The flight records align with Buttigieg's schedule of external and public engagements obtained by government watchdog group Americans for Public Trust (APT).

Buttigieg's predecessor, Elaine Chao, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, faced criticism for using the same jets on seven occasions in 2017, costing taxpayers nearly $94,000, Politico reported at the time. And Trump-appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign after reportedly taking 26 private jet flights that same year, costing taxpayers about $1.2 million.

Bipartisan leaders on the House Oversight and Reform Committee had opened an investigation into several senior Trump administration officials' use of government-owned and private aircraft for travel days before Price submitted his letter of resignation.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pete-buttigieg-flies-taxpayer-funded-private-jets-flight-data-show

   

[mountaineer]

BREAKING: Pete Buttigieg Under Investigation by Inspector General
By Chris
February 27, 2023

The Department of Transportation’s inspector general is launching an audit into Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s frequent use of private jets. Flight records reviewed were found to align with Buttigieg’s internal calendar, which was obtained by the watchdog group Americans for Public Trust (APT) at the time.

APT (Americans for Public Trust) executive director Caitlin Sutherland said, “After [APT] helped determine Secretary Buttigieg’s excessive use of taxpayer-funded government jets, we are pleased to see that his air travel is now under investigation.”

“Everyday Americans have faced unprecedented flight cancelations and disruptions, but Buttigieg has continued to fly private, even on a Coast Guard plane and even when commercial options were readily available.”

This investigation follows a report by Fox News Digital two months ago, which revealed that Buttigieg, despite advocating for efforts to combat climate change, had utilized at least 18 taxpayer-funded private flights since assuming office in early 2021. ... Trending Politics

[mountaineer]

See also Washington Post.

[mystery-ak]

February 27, 2023 4:27pm EST
Inspector general investigating Pete Buttigieg's extensive private jet travel after Fox News Digital report
Watchdog director slams Buttigieg for taking government-managed jets 'even when commercial options were readily available'

By Thomas Catenacci | Fox News


The Department of Transportation's (DOT) internal watchdog is opening an audit into Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg over his extensive use of private jets, the agency confirmed to Fox News Digital on Monday.

The DOT Inspector General investigation comes roughly two months following a Fox News Digital report that showed Buttigieg, who has repeatedly argued in favor of aggressive action to combat climate change, has taken at least 18 flights using taxpayer-funded private jets since taking office in early 2021. Flight records reviewed by Fox News Digital aligned with Buttigieg's internal calendar obtained at the time by government watchdog group Americans for Public Trust (APT).

"After Americans for Public Trust helped determine Secretary Buttigieg’s excessive use of taxpayer-funded government jets, we are pleased to see that his air travel is now under investigation," APT executive director Caitlin Sutherland told Fox News Digital on Monday.

"Everyday Americans have faced unprecedented flight cancelations and disruptions, but Buttigieg has continued to fly private, even on a Coast Guard plane and even when commercial options were readily available."

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/inspector-general-investigating-pete-buttigiegs-extensive-private-jet-travel

[Elderberry]

U. S. Department of Transportation
Office of Inspector General

https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/OST%E2%80%99s%20Compliance%20With%20Federal%20Policies%20and%20Procedures%20for%20Executive%20Travel%20on%20DOT%20Aircraft%202-27-23.pdf

Memorandum
Date: February 27, 2023
Subject: INFORMATION: Audit Announcement | OST’s Compliance With Federal Policies
and Procedures for Executive Travel on DOT Aircraft | Project No. 23A3005A000
Department of Transportation

From: Charles A. Ward
Principal Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Evaluations

To: Assistant Secretary for Administration

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has a fleet of aircraft that are
operated and maintained by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel.
FAA uses these aircraft to perform multiple missions, including transportation for
DOT and FAA senior executives. The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
guidance1 to executive department heads allows executives to travel on
Government aircraft but with restrictions. The guidance states that, to minimize
cost and improve the management and use of Government aviation resources,
Government aircraft shall be used only for official travel or on a space available
basis, subject to certain policies and authorizations. This applies to all
Government-owned, leased, chartered, and rental aircraft and related services
operated by executive agencies.

On December 16, 2022, citing news reports regarding the Secretary of
Transportation’s travel on Government aircraft, Senator Marco Rubio requested
that we determine whether the Secretary’s use of Government aircraft for
domestic and international travel complied with all applicable Federal regulations
and DOT policies and procedures. Accordingly, we will conduct an audit to
determine whether the Office of the Secretary complied with Federal regulations,
policies, and procedures regarding executive travel on DOT aircraft. The audit will
focus on official trips taken since January 31, 2017. We plan to begin this audit
shortly and will contact your audit liaison to schedule an entrance conference. We
will conduct our work at DOT headquarters and other sites as needed