The Trump Administration, one of the wealthiest in modern U.S. History, is facing widening Criticism over Travel Expenditures among some of the billionaires, Budget Hawks, and Business Executives who Head Federal Agencies.
Inspectors General have Opened at least Five Investigations into Charter or Military Flights by Cabinet Officials amounting to Millions in Federal Spending. Their Decisions to veer away from Cheaper Commercial Flights have led to criticism from Democrats in Congress and Government Accountability Groups about a Culture of Entitlement in Trump’s Administration.
The drumbeat of Controversy over Cabinet Travel threatens to Undermine a Core Pillar of Trump’s relationship with his Base, his Promise to “drain the swamp” of Elite Washington, Rein in Waste, and Represent the Working Class.
New Examples of Questioned Expenditures include those of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who on Friday turned over his Travel Records under Pressure from House Oversight Committee Chairman Representative Trey Gowdy (R-SC) and the Panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (MD).
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt faces an Expanding Investigation into his Travel by Private Jet.
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin last week backed out of a Congressional Trip to Europe, after Criticism about another International outing, which combined Official Travel with Sightseeing and a Wimbledon Tennis Event.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke faced new Criticism about his Travel, often accompanied by his wife, Lola Zinke, who Signed on in September as Campaign Manager for Troy Downing, a Republican Candidate for a Montana U.S. Senate Seat, which included stops at Political Fundraisers and Donor Events.
Trump Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway, who Traveled with Price several times, is unlikely to Repay the Government for her Travel Cost, the White House said, because she was a Guest.
Some Members of Trump’s Cabinet have shown more restraint. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, a 79-year-old Billionaire, has flown Commercial Coach on several International Flights, including for Trade Missions across Asia, Department Officials said. He has also flown several times Domestically through a Private Jet-Share Fleet, Paying for the Flights himself, his Spokesman said.
Some Government Accountability Groups argue that the Cabinet Behavior reflects the President’s own Disconnect with Government Frugality, evidenced by his Weekend Trips to his Private Golf Clubs and Mar-a-Lago, as well as the Costly Travels by Trump Family Members that must be Monitored by Government Employees and Secret Service Agents. “The tone is set at the top,” said Noah Bookbinder, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a Watchdog Group that recently called for an Investigation into Trump Appointees’ Travel. “When you have a president who is visiting his private resorts every weekend at great cost to taxpayers, it is not surprising that Cabinet members are using private jets to get to standard meetings.”
To deal with fallout, the White House has imposed a New Approval Process for Charter Jet Travel by Non-National Security Cabinet Members. The Protocol will be Supervised by Chief of Staff John F. Kelly.
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