Scott Pruitt can’t fly in coach like most American bureaucrats. You see, people in coach are rude to him and they might possibly hurt his feelings. So instead, Pruitt flies in the nice safe space in first-class. These first-class trips, however, are costing taxpayers a lot of money. Pruitt has also spent $25,000 on a sound-proof privacy booth, has demanded 24-hour security, and has had his office swept for listening devices.
Pruitt claims that he has no role in the airplane ticket decision-making process.
These presidential-level security precautions seem a bit extreme for someone whose job is to protect the environment. And taxpayers might wonder why he’s so worried about his calls being eavesdropped on. What secrets should the Environmental Protection Agency chief even have to hide? Regardless, Pruitt seems deathly afraid of spies and mean comments. So much for sticks and stones…
To be honest, the whole ordeal comes-off as creating a taxpayer-funded “safe space” for Pruitt. It seems unlikely that the average coach traveler would even recognize the head of the EPA. Even as a politics junkie, I can’t remember what he looks like. Further, given the lack of headlines and arrests, it also seems unlikely that Pruitt encountered any real security threats.
Pruitt claims that he has no role in the airplane ticket decision-making process. Instead, his security teams and chief of staff work out where he should sit. Being able to get on and off the plane quickly is a priority, as is limiting interactions with other travelers.
The flights aren’t cheap, however. A short flight from New York City to Washington, D.C. for Pruitt costs over $1,600, six times the price the EPA paid for Pruitt’s aids to fly in coach. The EPA has remained largely mum on the issue, but journalists have uncovered the extravagant spending.
(Credit: Facebook/Newsweek)
Pruitt has also flown at least four times on non-commercial aircraft. The total costs for these four flights alone amount to nearly $60,000. Other red flags have also emerged, including frequent weekend layovers in Oklahoma, his home state.
EPA Inspector General Arthur Elkins is conducting an investigation into Pruitt’s spending habits. Elkins’ office intends to release its conclusions this summer.
Travel Allowance Abuses Administration
If Pruitt’s first-class jet-setting was the only travel abuse issue facing the Trump administration, it likely wouldn’t draw much attention. However, Pruitt is joining a long list of Trump administration officials, current and former, who have been accused of wasting taxpayer dollars.
Tom Price was forced to resign as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after he spent over a million dollars on travel. Upon learning of the wasted money, President Trump slammed Price, leading to his resignation.
“American troops on a C-17 Globemaster plane getting ready to fly home after a tour in Afghanistan.” First-class warriors…in coach. (Credit: Facebook/WSMV News 4, Nashville)
Meanwhile, Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has come under fire for using taxpayer dollars to fly his wife to Europe. Shulkin was officially in Europe for business, but his trip was punctuated with frequent sight-seeing trips. Worse yet, Shulkin also appears to have improperly accepted Wimbledon tickets during his 11-day trip.
The above accusations were the result of an inspector general report, not a media investigation. Shulkin previously served as undersecretary at the VA under the Obama administration.
