Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, like other Democrats in the Biden administration, has been pushing for green energy and “zero emissions.” However, it seems that he is not practicing what he preaches. According to the watchdog group Americans for Public Trust (APT), Buttigieg has taken at least 18 flights using taxpayer-funded private jets since taking office. APT has called for an investigation into Buttigieg’s excessive use of private jets, which it believes is hypocritical and unnecessary, especially given the availability of commercial airline options.
Flight tracking data shows that Buttigieg has used a private jet fleet managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to travel across the country, including visits to Florida, Ohio, and New Hampshire, as well as international trips. The records obtained by APT match Buttigieg’s schedule of public engagements. However, the exact cost of Buttigieg’s flights to taxpayers is not yet known.
This is not the first time a Transportation Secretary has been criticized for using private jets. Elaine Chao, who served under President Trump, used the same private jets on seven occasions, resulting in nearly $94,000 in expenses for taxpayers. Tom Price, a former Health and Human Services Secretary appointed by Trump, reportedly took 26 private jet flights in the same year, resulting in a cost of around $1.2 million to taxpayers, which ultimately led to his resignation.
In response to the allegations, a DOT spokesperson defended Buttigieg’s use of private jets, saying that the Department’s career ethics officials have determined that the use of a 9-seat FAA plane would be either more cost-effective or should be approved for exceptional scheduling or security reasons. The spokesperson added that Buttigieg flies commercially the vast majority of the time.
However, critics are not satisfied with this explanation. They argue that Buttigieg’s use of private jets is hypocritical, given his advocacy for green energy and “zero emissions.” They also question the necessity of his frequent use of private jets, especially when commercial airline options are readily available.
In one case, Buttigieg used a government-managed private jet to travel from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas in August 2021, where he promoted public works projects in Nevada. He also used a private jet to travel to various states in August as part of his “Building a Better America Tour,” where he promoted grants authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Notably, most of these states have been considered swing states in recent federal elections.
In April 2022, Buttigieg and his husband traveled to Europe to attend the Fifth Invictus Games, for which they used a military aircraft. During the same month, Buttigieg traveled to New York City on one of the government planes for a radio interview and two brief meetings before returning a few hours later.
The Department of Transportation’s inspector general has now opened an investigation into Buttigieg’s frequent use of private jets, following calls from APT and other critics. APT executive director Caitlin Sutherland welcomed the investigation, saying that Buttigieg has continued to fly private even when commercial options were readily available. She added that Buttigieg’s excessive use of taxpayer-funded government jets is hypocritical, and troubling expenses to taxpayers must come under immediate scrutiny.
In conclusion, Buttigieg’s frequent use of private jets has sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of hypocrisy and misusing taxpayer funds. The investigation by the Department of Transportation’s inspector general will shed more light on the matter and determine whether Buttigieg’s use of private jets was justified or unnecessary.
Sources: ConservativeBrief, FoxNews
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