White House Says It Didn't Sign Off on Health Secretary's Private Jet Use
By Anna Edney and Margaret Talev
September 22, 2017, 12:04 PM EDT Updated on September 22, 2017, 1:54 PM EDT
The White House says it didn’t sign off on what are reportedly at least two dozen private-jet trips taken by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price that are now under review by the department’s inspector general.
Price took at least 24 flights on private airplanes since he became a cabinet secretary in February, Politico reported this week. The trips have cost taxpayers more than $300,000 and were a sharp departure from Price’s predecessors, who typically used commercial flights in the continental U.S., according to Politico.
“The White House doesn’t sign off for cabinet travel so would direct you to HHS for any comments,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. HHS’s Office of Inspector General is reviewing the travel to determine whether it complies with federal regulations, Tesia Williams, a spokeswoman for the OIG, said in an email Friday.
“We take this matter very seriously, and when questions arose about potentially inappropriate travel, we immediately began assessing the issue,” Williams said. “I can confirm that work is under way and will be completed as soon as possible.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-22/health-secretary-s-private-jet-use-wasn-t-cleared-by-white-house
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