Private

New York City NY

Description

While commercial air travel has been a disaster for Americans, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is under fire for using a military aircraft to fly to Europe with his husband, Chasten, to attend the Fifth Invictus Games this past spring. The Invictus Games are a multi-sport event for wounded soldiers and veterans founded by Prince Harry in 2014. Buttigieg was selected by Joe Biden to lead the U.S. delegation. The details: According to Buttigieg's calendar, which was obtained by Americans for Public Trust (APT) through a Freedom of Information Act request:  On April 15, Buttigieg and his husband flew from D.C. to the Netherlands on a "MilAir Flight." They attended the games where they were photographed with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Two days later, they returned to the U.S. on another military aircraft. The Department of Transportation has not answered questions about the cost to taxpayers or whether Buttigieg plans to reimburse taxpayers for his husband's travel accommodations. For perspective: He's not hitching a ride on a B-52 bomber. These military aircraft he's taking are essentially private jets.  Repeat offender: According to public records, Buttigieg has used government private jets at least 18 times.    Dems ignore Precedent : In 2017, former-President Trump's HHS Secretary Tom Price resigned when it was revealed he spent more than $500,000 of taxpayer money on government and chartered private jets. Former Obama cabinet member Kathleen Sebelius responded to the news, saying she never once took a military jet for international travel. Big picture: There have been multiple air travel crises' during Buttigieg's time as Transportation Secretary. Just last week one airline canceled roughly 15,000 flights. APT's executive director Caitlin Sutherland summed it up well: "Taxpayers, who just had their holiday plans completely upended because of Buttigieg’s travel mismanagement, should be furious."