Dem pushes for oversight on Trump officials using private jets

A senior Democratic lawmaker is calling on Republicans to ramp up oversight of Trump administration officials’ use of private planes at taxpayer expense.

The Thursday letter from Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), calls for the panel to hold oversight hearings.

Pallone cites Tom Price, who resigned as Health and Human Services Secretary following his extensive use of private planes for travel. He also points to reports of private jet travel by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

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Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have also both made headlines over their reported travel expenses.

Pallone pointed to previous comments from Walden saying the committee would conduct oversight of the issue “as appropriate.”

“I request that you follow through with your stated intention to conduct oversight on this issue, including scheduling oversight hearings to examine why the aforementioned travel using non-commercial aircraft occurred and whether related taxpayer expenses were warranted,” Pallone wrote to Walden.

“American taxpayers deserve assurances that their tax dollars are not wasted by the government’s highest officials,” Pallone added. “As the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have an obligation to conduct active and responsible oversight of our agencies of jurisdiction.”