Rep. Waxman reveals that Bush agency heads have taken 125 trips to over 300 locations aboard private jets, helicopters, and other aircraft at taxpayer expense and urges OMB Director Rob Portman to impose a moratorium on this luxury travel.
The analysis of flights by cabinet secretaries and agency heads released by Rep. Waxman is based on information provided by 14 departments and agencies, ten of which reported travel aboard leased or chartered private aircraft at taxpayer expense. The total cost to the taxpayer of the travel aboard private aircraft by cabinet secretaries and agency heads since 2001 is more than $1.5 million.
According to the records, taxpayer-funded travel aboard private jets intensified in 2004 when President Bush was campaigning for reelection. In 2004, cabinet secretaries took 36 trips stopping in 74 cities aboard private aircraft at taxpayer expense. Much of this travel was concentrated in electoral battleground states.
According to Rep. Waxman's analysis: