Posted on 03/06/2023 8:15:31 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and his advisers have taken 23 flights on government private aircraft since assuming office, but the Department of Transportation (DOT) is refusing to provide details about the taxpayer expenses of those flights, according to a report.
“The DOT and the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office both declined to detail how much each flight cost taxpayers over the course of multiple months and in recent weeks,” Fox News Digital reports. “The stonewalling comes amid an ongoing inspector general audit of Buttigieg’s use of the planes, which are part of a small fleet managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).”
“It’s inexcusable that Secretary Buttigieg’s agency is hiding the detailed costs of these taxpayer-funded flights,” Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of watchdog group Americans for Public Trust, told Fox News Digital. “Federal law dictates a timely release of exactly these types of records to the public.”
She added, “The American people are entitled to know the true cost of Buttigieg and his entourage of staffers flying private to destinations that have readily available commercial options.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) had requested an investigation into Buttigieg’s excessive traveling in reaction to a Fox News Digital report in December showing that Buttigieg had made 18 flights on FAA planes since January 2021. The DOT’s inspector general announced its plans to investigate last month.
Michael Chamberlain, the director of another watchdog group, Protect the Public’s Trust, is similarly disturbed by Buttigieg’s attempt at secrecy.
“Sadly, reports of unnecessary secrecy and selective release of information are all too common when discussing the self-proclaimed most transparent administration in history,” Chamberlain explained. “And it appears that the more high-profile the issue or event, the greater the efforts to hide the information the public deserves to know.”
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
What’s really going on here?
A government agency protecting its head, while another one looks into his behavior?
Or, Buttgieg being viewed as a less desirable 2024 candidate?
Or, some preventive maintenance, so they can say, “already been investigated?”
I’d say a bit of all three.
Mile-high Club membership bennies only pertain on private flights.
Time for the skeletons to come out of the closet.
Junkets to TJMaxx and Kohls?
They knew Buttplugger was an incompetent boob when they made him Transportation Secretary. They hoped he would fail, and he has done so spectacularly!
Now it’s time to ‘throw him under the bus’...................................
How gauche!.....Macy's and Nordstroms!..............................
How much was spent on Crisco, dropcloths, and bullwhips?
What, exactly, is a “government private aircraft?”
And this is a surprise because...?
Zat you, Tucker?
🤡 🌎
All Perk with No work.
This whole affair raises a good question. Just how many non-military aircraft does the Federal Government own. I’d like to see a list by agency and aircraft type. I suspect it’s bunch and maybe more.
RE: This whole affair raises a good question. Just how many non-military aircraft does the Federal Government own.
Google is your friend.
See here:
https://www.thoughtco.com/who-flies-on-the-taxpayers-dime-3321451
NOTE: These are numbers from 7 years ago, but it gives you an idea.
[EXCERPT]
In July 2016, the Government Accountability Office reported that 11 non-military executive branch federal agencies owned 924 aircraft, excluding those that are loaned, leased, or otherwise provided to other entities. The inventory of aircraft included:
495 fixed-wing airplanes,
414 helicopters,
14 unmanned aircraft systems (drones), and
1 glider.
The Department of State owned the most aircraft (248), making it the federal government’s largest non-military aviation fleet. The combined 11 agencies reported spending approximately $661 million to use and maintain their owned aircraft in fiscal year 2015. Besides basic transportation, the aircraft are used for a variety of purposes, including law enforcement, scientific research, and firefighting.
A glider????????????????
Well, at least buttjuice didn’t go to Epstein’s island
The DOT always investigates at taxpayer expense.
Thanks SgtHooper
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