Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to new reports that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price has been using taxpayer funds to book private jets to visit colleagues and spend time with family:
“I’m shocked by the repeated and flagrant abuse of taxpayer funds by Secretary Price, and the outright hypocrisy of these actions from a man who has spent his career railing against government waste. There is simply no reason to regularly charter private jets at taxpayer expense for commercially serviced routes for job-related business, and there is no excuse for private jet flights for personal reasons. I would hope these latest reports will serve to expedite the important Inspector General’s investigation into Secretary Price’s questionable actions. If the Inspector General concludes these allegations are true, Secretary Price should reimburse taxpayers for the funds he spent on private jets and apologize to the American people for his gross breach of the public trust."
