Pete Buttigieg flies frequently on taxpayer-funded private jet: Report
Jack Birle
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg frequently uses a private jet to fly across the country while commercial aviation continues to face delays.
The head of the Department of Transportation has flown on a taxpayer-funded private jet at least 18 times since taking office last year, per a report from Fox News.
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Buttigieg has flown to Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Nevada, among other states, on government-funded private jets.
Under Buttigieg’s leadership, the Transportation Department has emphasized carbon emissions reductions as part of President Joe Biden’s climate goals. Using private jets as opposed to flying on commercial airlines uses more emissions.
Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who was Buttigieg’s predecessor, received criticism for her use of taxpayer-funded jets to fly to her events during her tenure.
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Commercial flights saw higher rates of being delayed or canceled since Buttigieg became secretary because the United States has gradually returned to travel as the pandemic waned. Flight delays and cancellations were so frequent in the summer that the Department of Transportation was directing angry consumers to its website for guidance.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Department of Transportation for comment.