House Democrats introduced legislation Thursday that would prohibit senior federal officials from using taxpayer dollars to travel on private planes, following reports at least three of President Trump’s Cabinet officials used private or government aircraft for official business.
Democratic Reps. Ted Lieu of California, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Pramila Jayapal of Washington introduced the Stop Waste and Misuse by Presidential Flyers Landing Yet Evading Rules and Standards (SWAMP FLYERS) Act, which comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price reportedly chartered private jets to travel over the last four months.
“I can’t believe we have to introduce a bill like this, but multiple Trump Cabinet officials apparently believe taxpayer funds can be used for personal travel benefits,” Lieu said in a statement. “This culture of corruption in the Trump administration must stop. Secretaries Price and [Treasury Secretary Steve] Mnuchin, and [EPA] Administrator Pruitt owe the American people an apology, and they should pay back the costs of their luxury travel on the taxpayer’s dime.”
Lieu also called for Price to resign.
“The Trump administration has already enlarged the swamp, but the tremendous disrespect shown to taxpayers by these senior officials is ridiculous,” he said. “Sad!”
Last week, Politico reported Price has used private aircraft for at least two dozen flights since May, costing taxpayers more than $400,000. The Health and Human Services secretary used the private jets on at least two trips for combined official and personal business.
Following the revelations, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced it is probing all administration officials’ use of private and government planes, and the Health and Human Services Inspector General is investigating Price’s travel.
Mnuchin and his travel arrangements are also the focus of inspector general probe.
Mnuchin used a government jet in mid-August for a trip from New York City to Washington, D.C. In New York, Mnuchin attended a meeting at Trump Tower. The Treasury secretary, accompanied by his wife, also used a military plane to travel to Louisville and Fort Knox, Ky., at the end of August. Some speculated Mnuchin used the trip to view the solar eclipse.
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has also used both a private jet and a military plane to travel for official business, CNN reported Wednesday. In June, Pruitt used an Air Force jet to fly from Ohio to New York, and in August, the EPA administrator chartered a private plane to fly from Denver to Durango, Colo., and back.
