Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin spent $800,000 on seven flights using military jets
Air travel inquiry prompted by wife Louise Linton's Instagram post boasting about luxurious lifestyle. Pair were previously refused request to take Government plane on honeymoon
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has flown on military aircraft seven times since March at a cost of more than $800,000, including a $15,000 round-trip flight to New York to meet with President Donald Trump at Trump Tower, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General.
The inquiry into Mnuchin’s air travel, prompted by an Instagram posting by his wife, found he broke no laws in his use of military aircraft but lamented the loose justification provided for such costly flights.
“What is of concern is a disconnect between the standard of proof called for” by the Office of Management and Budget “and the actual amount of proof provided by Treasury and accepted by the White House in justifying these trip requests,” the Inspector General wrote.
Mnuchin has made nine requests for military aircraft since assuming his position earlier this year and has taken seven flights. A request to use a military plane for his European honeymoon with his wife, Louise Linton, in August was withdrawn. A ninth flight is scheduled for later this month, when Mnuchin is expected to travel to the Middle East.
The investigation follows a series of controversies over the lavish travel of several members of Trump’s Cabinet, including Tom Price, the Health and Human Services Secretary, who resigned last week after racking up at least $400,000 in travel bills for chartered flights.
Ryan Zinke, the Interior Secretary, used a chartered airplane for several flights, including a $12,000 trip to deliver a speech celebrating a new professional hockey team in Las Vegas. Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has spent more than $58,000 on chartered and military flights, and David Shulkin, the Veterans Affairs secretary, took his wife on a 10-day trip to Europe that mixed business meetings and sightseeing, according to The Washington Post.
The Treasury report found no instances in which Mnuchin used military aircraft for private travel.
Mnuchin’s air accommodations attracted attention in August after Linton accompanied him on a trip to Kentucky to visit the gold reserves at Fort Knox.
The New York Times
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments