Mnuchin’s $800,000 plane bill cleared
He made nine requests for use of government aircraft since being sworn in as US treasury chief
The US Treasury’s watchdog found Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s use of government aircraft at a cost of about $800,000 (Dh2.93 million) was in line with the agency’s rules, but asked for “more rigour” backing up the need for such expenses in the future.
Mnuchin made nine requests for use of government aircraft since he was sworn in as Treasury chief in February, including three international trips. Eight were approved, while a request for a jet for his European honeymoon in August was withdrawn. One of the approved requests covers a trip to the Middle East scheduled for later this month.
No violation of law
“I see no violation of law in these requests and uses,” Rich Delmar, counsel for the Office of Inspector General for Treasury, wrote in an memo to Inspector General Eric Thorson released on Thursday.
The report advises “more rigour” in justifying government air use “especially regarding cost comparisons and needs for security and other special factors.”
Mnuchin’s travel office estimated that a trip to Miami in June — that cost an estimated almost $44,000 (Dh161,612) on Air Force planes — would have been $688 for a commercial round trip flight.
Trump’s cabinet has faced an uproar over use of private and military jets at taxpayer expense, with the controversy claiming one member already. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned last week after it was reported that he took more than two dozen private flights at taxpayer expense, as well as trips to Europe, Africa and Asia on military aircraft.
The total cost was more than $1 million.