Nastiest primary yet? Trump raises question with DeSantis attack A spokesperson for the department confirmed these details to The Hill. The Post also reported that in a response to Grassley, the Transportation Department said 119 out of Buttigieg’s 138 flights he took since being sworn in were on commercial airlines. The Washington Post reported that the cost of Buttigieg’s 18 flights over seven total trips, including accommodations for staff, was $41,905.20. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to Buttigieg last month demanding answers on the secretary’s travel, including asking for an itemized list of all non-commercial flights he took, all expenses paid for by Transportation Department related to the flights and reasons the flight was warranted. The Hill reached out to Rubio’s office for comment.įederal travel regulations limit employee travel on government vehicles and state that “ecause the taxpayers should pay no more than necessary for your transportation, generally you may travel on Government aircraft only when a Government aircraft is the most cost-effective mode of travel.” “Accordingly, we will conduct an audit to determine whether the Office of the Secretary complied with Federal regulations, policies, and procedures regarding executive travel on DOT aircraft.”

“Senator Marco Rubio requested that we determine whether the Secretary’s use of Government aircraft for domestic and international travel complied with all applicable Federal regulations and DOT policies and procedures,” the announcement reads. 31, 2017, and said it will start the audit “shortly.”

The watchdog will review all Buttigieg’s official flights starting from Jan.

Government watchdog article