GovExec: Momentum Builds for Probe of HHS Secretary’s Travel Costs

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Multiple news reports of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price using private planes for extensive official travel have prompted several calls for probes by an inspector general and congressional overseers.

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On Thursday, the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center announced that it had submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for records on Price’s travel, citing five chartered flights from Sept. 13-15, estimated to have cost taxpayers $60,000.

“Taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill for chartered flights when less expensive means of travel are easily accessible,” said Larry Noble, the group’s senior director and general counsel. “Price’s use of chartered planes is consistent with the tone set from the White House on spending, which led Steve Mnuchin to attempt to use military aircraft for his European honeymoon. The public deserves to know who approved Secretary Price’s private jet trips on their dime–and how those conclusions were reached.”

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