Ground the high-flying members of Trump’s Cabinet
The only thing former Health and Human Services secretary Tom Price has done right since he started flying on private jets at taxpayers’ expense is to resign.
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President Trump came to office vowing to “drain the swamp” of corruption and entitled officials. But he has not been a great role model, and even after Price’s exit, the administration remains filled with Cabinet members who share Price’s penchant for avoiding the rabble in coach. Several are multimillionaires who, if they wanted to travel like royalty, could pay for it themselves. Among the high-flyers: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and his wife took a military flight in August to Fort Knox in Kentucky, which happened to put them in prime viewing range for the solar eclipse. Mnuchin also asked about using a government jet for his honeymoon. It didn’t happen.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke used several charters this
summer,Vegas to includingGlacier Parkone from Interna- Las tional Airport near his Montana home that cost taxpayers $12,375 — about $12,000 more than commercial fares, according to The Washington Post.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt took several charter flights and one military plane on trips over the summer. Cost? About $58,000, according to CBS News.
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin mixed pleasure with business on a 10-day European jaunt for meetings in Denmark and Great Britain, including a Wimbledon tennis match and a cruise on the Thames. Shulkin flew commercial, joined by his wife, with the government paying for her flight and some expenses. There hasn’t been a clear explanation of why his wife qualified for taxpayer-funded travel.
Spokesmen for the officials explained their “non-commercial” flights by saying they were approved by ethics officials at their agencies. Those ethics experts may want to brush up on the strict rules designed to prevent the use of expensive private or government planes. The underlying principle is simple: “Don’t waste taxpayer money.” And exceptions are narrow.
In normal times, a scandal like this would lead the news for days. But Cabinet members’ luxury tastes on the public dime are no match for potential nuclear war, devastation in Puerto Rico, tax overhaul, failed efforts to bury Obamacare and a presidential battle with the NFL.
Still, Cabinet members aren’t out of trouble yet. Inspectors general at several agencies are investigating. The House oversight committee has sought travel records of officials from 24 agencies. And the White House chief of staff now must approve travel on a government or private aircraft.
That’s fine if that’s what it takes. But those holding the highest offices in the land should not need a travel nanny.
They should know enough not to gouge the taxpayers they’re supposed to be serving.