Trump’s Extravagant Travel Expenses Being Scrutinized

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Trump’s almost weekly golf vacations to Florida. Melania’s frequent trips to Manhattan from the White House. Ivanka and Jared and Don Jr. flying around the world at government expense. And cabinet members flying first class, chartering jets, and taking unneeded trips.

Never before has the United States been victimized to such a great extent by a president, his family and his cabinet members.

And now finally some members of Congress at last are beginning to scrutinize these outrageous and excessive expenses. Leaders of the House Democratic caucus are now demanding that hearings be held on this topic. They want to investigate whether or not the Trump administration has “adequate controls” to protect taxpayer money in light of recent “extravagant air travel” by cabinet members.

A formal letter has been sent by Democratic congressmen Elijah Cummings and Raja Krishnamoorthi to Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The letter identifies two of President Trump’s cabinet members as just the latest examples of “questionable and expensive travel at the taxpayer expense.” The two situations mentioned by name in the letter are:

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who spent over $1 million on unnecessary trips on military aircraft, and
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s trip to Italy that cost U.S. taxpayers over $120,000.

“The extensive use of noncommercial aircraft by multiple members of the Trump Administration is disrespectful to the American taxpayers who foot the bill for these expenses,” the letter reads. “It is unacceptable that the White House and several agencies have refused to provide our Committee with the documents we need to conduct our oversight responsibilities.”

“There clearly seems to be a pattern within this administration of officials opting for more expensive, private travel,” said Jordan Libowitz, spokesman for the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “Congress absolutely should be investigating that kind of thing.”

There have been other, previous examples also.

The former Veterans Administration director David Shulkin in 2017 took a 10 day taxpayer funded trip with his entourage to Europe that included a River Cruise and visiting palaces.

Former HHS Secretary Tom Price spent over $1 million on private jets and military aircraft during his first nine months on the job.

One of the benefits to the American people of Trump leaving office will be that taxpayers will no longer have to pay for the frivolous travel costs for him, his family, and members of his corrupt administration.

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.