Whether you are Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, Alt Right or Communist, ask yourself this: do you really want your government leaders traveling lavishly on the taxpayer’s dime?
U.S. President Donald Trump made “draining the swamp” a central campaign theme. He promised to rid the federal government of waste and scrupulously care for taxpayer money, as if it was his own business.
But a Washington Post expose on Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt reveals an opulent travel budget with even the shortest trips in the comfort of first class.
For example, taxpayers paid $1641.43 for a first class seat from Washington, DC to New York last June. This cost six times more than what his aides paid for an economy class seat.
Two days later, he flew an Air Force charter from Cincinnati to New York at a cost of $36,068.50…for the 590-mile flight. He then flew to Rome on Delta…at a cost of $7,003.52…for a personal tour of the Vatican and then to the G7 summit in Bologna. He departed the conference early.
All that travel in early June totaled up to more than $90,000. Ask yourself this: is this necessary? Is this how taxpayer dollars should be allocated in a time in which there are so many pressing needs and the deficit is rapidly growing?
But wait, there’s more. $4,443 for a trip to Alabama on Delta. $2,600 a pop for trips to Tulsa, his home, for “meetings”. $4,680.04 for a trip to Salt Lake City. $10,830 on a trip to Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, and Texas. We’re only talking airfare here…
Unsurprisingly, he also stays in the best hotels in each city he visits.
Then there’s the issue of airline. Despite contracted rates on other airlines, he routinely chooses Delta. When asked about it, an EPA spokesman simply stated, “EPA staff seek cost-efficient travel options at all times.”
“It’s for My Security”
While I can understand why an environmental protection official seeking to dismantle federal regulations protecting the environment might fear public scorn, it’s disgusting how the EPA defends Pruitt’s travel.
Let’s take a step back. Federal regulations govern when/how public officials should travel in forward cabins. As the Washington Post reports:
Federal regulations state that government travelers are required to “exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would exercise if traveling on personal business . . . and therefore, should consider the least expensive class of travel that meets their needs.” Agencies are allowed to authorize first-class travel in rare instances, such as a flight of 14 hours or more, a medical disability or when “exceptional security circumstances” mean “use of coach class accommodations would endanger your life or government property.”
Did you catch that? A flight from DC to New York is not 14 hours long and Pruitt is very healthy. Thus, every first class jaunt around the world is labeled an “exceptional security circumstances”. Clearly Pruitt is receiving counsel from Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis.
> Read More: “You can’t get in a long tube with a bunch of demons…it’s deadly!”
In all seriousness, Pruitt claims he has to fly in first class from Washington to New York because “the use of coach class accommodations would endanger [his] life or government property.” I’m disgusted.
CONCLUSION
Well, at least Pruitt flies primarily commercial domestically instead of private…he’s got one up on disgraced Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price.
But he’s planning on trips to Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico. Look for him in Delta Business on all these flights…he’s got to re-qualify for Diamond status after all.
I view this as a non-partisan issue that every American should be outraged about. What do you think? Do you like your tax dollars spent on lavish travel for officials who claim to be humble public servants?
image: Scott Pruitt / CC 2.0
Politicians are, by and large, loathsome parasites living in their own privileged bubble protecting one another. This guy is a clown. Yeah, an EPA official needs protection. From what?
Get him a coach fare on the public dime. He can upgrade himself with his own money.
Did I mention politicans are loathsome?
Did you seriously just legitimize the “Alt Right” as being an legit “side to be on”????
The unfortunate fact is that there is an Alt-Right undercurrent in the USA but my point is whatever your political position — from facist to Alt-Right to communist to anarchist, can’t we agree that this sort of travel is a waste?
Were you even more disgusted by private jet travel by Obama admin officials? Remember Loretta Lynch’s secret tarmac meeting with slick Willy in her private jet during the Hilldawg “investigation”? No liberal outrage then about any of that, let alone her use of private jets, which I’m sure was not a one off occurrance. Now you all have this faux outage over Pruitt flying in domestic First? How about just a touch of intellectual honesty please.
Here’s another good example. Trump takes lavish vacations at his own properties, whereas Obama and his wife took lavish vacations wherever the hell they felt like, brought along extended family, and acted like money was of no consequence.
I don’t know or really care what Matthew’s political affiliation, but I see where you’re coming from. Picking on the Trump administration for doing the exact (if not more financially responsible) thing that Obama did is just irresponsible and it seems like every news source and their brother does it constantly.
Obama Spent 100 million on travel over 8 years, Trump has spent 21 million in 88 days.
Trump defenders: always getting humiliated by facts.
Are you comparing total cost, including what Trump paid on his own dime, or cost billed to the government? I highly doubt your numbers, considering the lavish traveling by Obama and Michelle, often separately. Let’s see your source.
Trump paying on his own dime? HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAAH nope.
this number is a myth
Mike, consider two points. First, I don’t defend the Obama’s traveling separately to Hawaii or wasteful spending by any government official of any party. Second, Trump bills the government rack rate for the Secret Service and staff rooms used at his resorts…
Matthew, I wasn’t attacking you, that’s why I put in the point about how I don’t know (or really care) about your political leanings.
Regarding the rack rate, what do you think past presidential secret service and staff were being charged for stays at hotels/resorts?
Except Obama wasn’t staying at resorts or hotel with his own name on it.
See: emoulements.
Yeah, except the difference is that Trump makes money from staff and Secret Service staying at his properties while billing the government for it. Even if Obama was doing that (and I imagine that’s probably policy), he wasn’t personally benefitting from those government expenditures.
That’s a true story you made up. It’s a known fact that liberals have higher ethical standards (not to mention, are far smarter) than Republican trash.
Try spelling right, to start.
Actually it’s quite the opposite. Research shows liberals are much more likely to steal, lie, and commit violence. Liberals are just better at justifying their actions to themselves while pretending like they still have some moral high ground. You are a good case in point.
Please cite sources. And no not Fox News.
This is not faux outrage and I certainly won’t defend the same practices by any administration.
Reminds me of the recent incident a month or so back in which that congresswoman had someone bumped so she could sit in first class. The ONLY way I could see flying first allowed is if it’s a flight of more than 2 hours AND the cost was comparable to coach – as it sometimes is at the last minute. Sometimes I can justify the difference if I’m doing work on a plane, but $1,641 for a ticket from DC to NY is RIDICULOUS. Glad to see my tax dollars are hard at work…
I’m not nearly as outraged by this as I am by the many corporate CEO’s and below who “need” to fly by private jets for their security. And the costs for those extravagances are subsidized by all taxpayers as the expenses are deducted from the company income but not included in the individuals income. Who has a greater security risk, a cabinet member or the CEO of a company that makes cabinets. Let’s be complete in the costs to all of us.
+1 Just another old white guy flying with OPM. How is it fair that I earn Gold with my own money while others fly 200k for free? The answer, of course, is life isn’t fair.
When Biden was VP, he routinely commuted via Acela at far lower costs. And the security detail needed for VP vs. EPA is not even on the same order of magnitude.
But then again, for a climate change denier like Pruitt, it only makes sense for him to travel in the most expensive *and* least environmentally-friendly method …… like flying DCA-LGA when Amtrak Acela is just 2:50 WAS Union to NY Penn.
Laughable. Commuting, i.e. going to work each day, is not the same as traveling. And if you are a true climate change believer, and toe the dem line that climate change is the greatest threat to mankind, then you are nothing but a disgusting hypocrite for your presumably massive carbon footprint from frequent traveling. If you really think CC is important, then stop traveling, live in a small apartment, don’t drive, and don’t heat or cool your home. But no, you won’t do that, you are more interested in virtue signalling and pretending like you have moral authority than actually doing something about it the non-problem.
> Commuting, i.e. going to work each day, is not the same as traveling.
Oh you precious.
I hope he was able to use his credit card for flight and get reimbursed. Wouldn’t want him to miss out on 5x amex points.
I think the most egregious example was when Michelle and kids went to Hawaii on AF1 a couple of days ahead of Obama then he flew out then he came back alone, and AF1 took yet another round trip to pick up the rest of them. Millions of dollars wasted b/c her highness couldn’t wait a few days for her husband.
OK – I’ll take the counter position. I despise Scott Pruitt and nearly everyone in this administration. However, the notion of an agency secretary – one of the 50 or so most senior leaders in our government – flying in business/first is not unreasonable. I know it’s easy to be “outraged” and “disgusted” and all of these other things. But even without comparing the cost to flying private (which I agree is unnecessary for nearly everyone in government), I just can’t get worked up about it. Pruitt is the equivalent of the CEO of an agency that employs approximately 15K people.. I understand the irony of the specifics of the agency but there is enough insane behavior going on with the administration that I don’t think this is worthy of our breathlessness.
I understand your point, but he is a public servant. What makes first class reasonable for a 1hr flight when government guidelines appear to clearly prohibit it?
I would tend to agree with BC. While most government employees are more strictly held to flying in economy and I agree with that (though I note that they can upgrade themselves, and those that travel a lot and have status do), I think that at the cabinet level, you are talking about people using time efficiently and getting work done. A domestic seat is not the way to do that. I think commercial first is reasonable for that. In fact, I would much rather have them flying commercial first than taking government jets, which is often (but not always) unnecessary and much more expensive.
And I don’t think this administration is different from the last in that regard.
A little more egregious is that the airlines seem to be handing out special status (like Global Services on UA) to members of Congress who have not earned it, as the example noted above, as a secret, unreported but very valuable, gift. That is a borderline bribe.
Generally, BC summed up my feelings quite well, although I do believe there should be more transparent rules under which premium travel can be authorized for executives at any level (LGA-CVG and WAS-NYC is rediculous). I dispise Pruitt and most of the Trump administration, so for me this is not political (unlike some of the earlier comments, I hold everyone to the same standards). I guess one question I would have is how much International travel is actually REQUIRED by the EPA Administrtor? If s/he is traveling simply to “network”, that is outrageous. But, if s/he has to represent the US in ways that will BENEFIT the US and it REQUIRES his presence, then I don’t have a problem with a discounted J class ticket on flights over 3000 miles.
True fact: anyone arguing politics in the comments section of a blog is moron.
ha ha ha!
I work for the government, so my response to this is – it depends. Is a politician traveling and planning to work or prepare for meetings – or sleep because there’s an early meeting when he arrives? Is the government employee an attorney preparing for an EBT in Chicago upon arrival, or a labor law negotiation, or court appearance? Any of those scenarios would justify a seat in business. Maybe the airlines should work with the government and give greater discounts for government travel?
On the other hand, if elite travel is abusive or an example of someone taking advantage of taxpayers, my response would be otherwise.
But the point is that there’s no one sweeping answers. Like everything else, the merits of each situation should be examined on a case by case basis.
Oh come on. I’m as rabid a Democrat as anyone, so I’m happy to see Pruitt take it on the nose.
But, it’s pretty reasonable for a Cabinet-rank official — one of the most important leaders of our country — to fly first class. If anyone ought to be flying in first, that’s probably who it should be.
Look at the number of mid-rank or lower businesspeople who consistently fly first class or private. Remember that Jeff Immelt was flying around with an entire extra JET, not just paying for first class.
Like them or hate them, senior government officials are by and large trying to make the world a better place (in the way they understand that, which may differ from yours). They make very little money in the process (as opposed to the lavishly compensated executives that fly first/private) and are entitle to a few perks along the way. To expect some of the most powerful people in the world to fly coach is just unreasonable.
Compare this also to the military — no one seems to mind the enormous waste involved in private flights for senior military officers, who are spending far far more on far nicer arrangements than someone like Pruitt.
What do you think about the government guidelines prohibiting it unless there are “exceptional security circumstances” meaning “use of coach class accommodations would endanger your life or government property.”
Well, that’s not what the guidelines say. First class is permitted “when required because of agency mission, consistent with your agency’s internal procedures.” This is a big enough loophole to drive any truck through you want.
Comparing an elected/appointed official that is compensated by compulsory tax dollars to a corporate CEO who lives on private dollars is really a poor example.
If we don’t like a some pol flying around we have no say and/or choice. Period.
If we don’t like some exec wasting his corporation’s money, sell the stock or don’t buy whatever it is they’re selling It’s our call.
And to think that these pols are really trying to make the world a “better place” is laughable. Pols care about getting re-elected/re-appointed. Nothing more, nothing less.
FWIW, I agree 100% about your senior military argument.
Scott Pruitt is actively working against making the world a better place.
Matthew,
You’ve had this blog a long time. Long enough to be around when Hillary Clinton was earning those 1 million government frequent flyer miles. Yet there is no faux outrage of her travels. It would be nice if you added a post script onto your article about the Most Traveled Secretary ever.
Clearly Pruitt is exploiting the system, to say the least. However, this is not the first time, nor the last time that this will happen. Cabinet level officials expect to fly first class. DCA to LGA is sorta crazy, but on long haul flights I completely understand. I worked for many years at the Pentagon flying to/from Hawaii and Japan several times a month. When you are expected to be productive for all day meetings flying with a lie flat bed is a business necessity especially for senior executives and cabinet level officials. It would take me at least 20 hours to travel for 2-3 days of meetings and then another 20 hours to get home. Rinse and repeat. Traveling (in economy, especially for the government) gets old fast. It’s not as clear cut as you think.
+1 agree with your premise, but opening the post by legitimizing the ‘alt-right’ is equally appalling to me
The point is not to legitimize the Alt-Right. You do not deny there exists a strong Alt-Right undercurrent in the USA? This should be something everyone agrees on instead of “Obama was worse” or “Bush was worse”.
50 % of USA citizens pay $ 0 Federal income taxes. Most non-citizens pay no Federal taxes either. Funny to see how people who pay nothing get their undies in a twist about government spending…..unless its on free handouts for them. Then, want more.
What does this have to do with government waste?
I guess I’m having a tough time summoning much outrage when $90,000 is but a rounding error in a national debt north of $20 trillion. Scott Pruitt’s excess travel expenses rank pretty far down on the list of wasteful expenditures that need to be cut, but never will in our current political climate. And I suppose I fall in line with Kathy’s view on the subject. I can see legitimate business reasons, outside of “security”, that justify first or business class flights for a cabinet secretary. Though F from DC to NY is pushing it if you ask me…
Principles.
Principles are fine and dandy. Fact is, they don’t exist in Washington or the statehouses. I learned a long time ago that getting upset about it only serves to enhance the bonuses of the makers of Pepto-Bismol. Worry less. Travel more. 🙂
If permitted “when required because of agency mission, consistent with your agency’s internal procedures” per the regulations, which seems appropriate to me for a cabinet level official, then your principles have been met.
Also, another important principle is equal application of the law. If this has been the way the rule is interpreted, and some dislike it, then change the rule, prospectively. Right now, this smacks of “its okay when my side does it, but now the other side is in power so its not”.
By the way, I’ve been in Acela first and seen cabinet secretaries there, too. And I think that is okay. (It is only about $100 more, but better than first on any domestic airline, or any European high speed train, for that matter.)
Meh – these government officials should be booked on the next Megabus out of town! Else, they should be ridden out of town on a rail. If the bus or railroad won’t do, then a good swift kick in the pants should get them flying far enough out of Washington.
Republicans are all hypocrites. All of them. They have done a 180 turn around in a few years. Suddenly deficits don’t matter.
Today there is an article about Bill Gates where he says it’s unfair they are rich. And we have a scum bag in the white house that boasts how rich he is. And white assholes support him.
Scum lives south of the mason Dixon line. White scum.
I got excited when I saw that credit was back but this is clearly not the real credit… don’t steal the real troll’s name when you have such an incoherent mental structure.
Miss you real credit
It’s not good that he’s breaking the regs but it isn’t that unreasonable if you believe high level execs flying in the front isn’t just a “perk” but actually makes them more valuable as they better prepared/reste
from DC to NYC???
Seems to me that since WaPo published their expose, Pruitt may indeed be at risk flying anywhere an American taxpayer can see him. Hopefully, shining daylight on bad behavior will help move Scotty back to Oklahoma and out of our pockets.
Better Delta business than Swiss first, as far as I’m concerned.
I disagree with the premise of the article and in fact think most politicians (and bureaucrats) don’t get paid enough compared to their private sector counterparts. The problem with not paying for talent on a competitive basis is that if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys – especially monkeys who are prone to corruption.
Instead I would prefer we pay private-sector competitive compensation without addendum sweeteners (like un-payable pensions or benefits) and hit corruption and misuse of public trust very, very hard.
Besides, if very many government employees were flying in first, maybe IAD would renovate the C/D terminal, and we might get a Polaris or Centurion lounge … hey, now that I think of it, maybe we need to encourage more of this kind of thing.
Anybody remember when Boarding Area hosted bloggers who actually used their skill set to write about traveling?
Oh, government travel isn’t about traveling? You’re free to check out my AA JFK Flagship Lounge review, story on the fake emotional support animal, or the story on former United CEO Jeff Smisek’s influence on Cathay Pacific
the left continues to threaten Pruitt’s life. over and over. the left is unhinged. He needs to do what he can to stay safe.
After seeing the vitriol posted in these comments, I wouldn’t mind if he flew private jets everywhere and a helicopter to work everyday.
You’re okay with higher federal income taxes to pay for that? Because right now it is just being put on the credit card and we are making minimum payments.
Interesting I haven’t heard the name Nancy Pelosi here. Does anyone remember her request to fly from DC to her home in SF? And this lady is still there. Just place all these politicians on a Greyhound bus and we are done talking. BTW, it is not the politicians fault. You have to blame the stupid people that elected them all.
Trust me, I think Pelosi’s private 757 when she was speaker was absolutely absurd.
So absurd that you wrote exactly zero blog posts about her private travel. How many first class tickets can Pruitt buy for one plane ride in a 757?
It’s funny to see people getting worked up over over a couple of hundred thousand dollars of travel fees. The government is spending well over 500 BILLION dollars on defense alone, which is over 50% of the annual budget. People are starving and unable to get healthcare. But somehow the thing to worry about is some idiot’s (yes, I believe Pruitt is an idiot) travel expenses?
I know these things have to be put into a certain context and I’m all about giving the right example; I even agree with the hypocrisy of the situation. But seriously, this is insane. He’s a top government official (for whatever reason) and I can completely understand him flying first class. I’d personally take a different approach, especially on the shorter trips, but hey… let’s not worry about this too much.
Your point is well-taken, but since this is a travel blog I focus on travel.
Fair enough 🙂
I believe that Pruitt should be afforded a class of service (planes, hotels and otherwise) commensurate with his rank and seniority, as other readers have pointed out.
I believe Government workers should be provided the same benefits and quality of life as the constituents whose taxes pay their salaries — not more and not less.
As it relates to travel, if I do not have a problem with a C-level executive flying first class or private on his companby’s dime, I ought to not have a problem with a high-level government official doing the same.
Is there no feeling that taxpayer money is different than shareholder money?
Let me use another example — a member of clergy.
If a church is in an upper-class neighborhood and is supported by the inflated tithes of such persons, shouldn’t the pastor and his staff be afforded a minimum standard of living that is marginally commensurate with the people he is caring for and doing life with? Obviously money should be spent responsibly and earmarked for benevolence but surely you would not suggest that such a man and his staff deprive adopt a vow of poverty just because it is the money of their parishioners.
This is the same principle with Government.
Difficult question. I think pastors and politicians should by all means use points/miles/status to upgrade when possible. And while it is more an issue of conscience for clergy members, I don’t like either politicians or clergy using other people’s money to fly opulently.
Follow the money people. Corporate excess reduces the company bottom line and also reduces their tax payments. So all those Walmart jets are costing the treasury just as surely as a government employee getting any plane ticket.
To criticize Pelosi for USAF travel ignores the fact that she was third in the line of succession. At that level I believe continuous secure communication capability is an absolute requirement.