In a surprising turn of events, a bill requiring Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to disclose his flight records on government jets was defeated in the House. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), was narrowly rejected by a 219-216 vote, with ten Republicans siding with Democrats against the measure. This amendment was attached to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation.
Watchdog groups expressed disappointment at the bill's failure. Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust (APT), highlighted the importance of transparency, particularly given prior reports about Buttigieg's use of taxpayer-funded private jets. APT is currently suing the FAA for access to these records.
The ten Republicans who voted against the amendment were identified as House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), and Reps. Troy Balderson, Jack Bergman, Brian Fitzpatrick, Garret Graves, David Joyce, Jennifer Kiggans, Marcus Molinaro, and Brandon Williams. However, a spokesperson for Rep. Balderson stated that his vote was inadvertent and that he had submitted paperwork to correct it to an "aye" vote.
This vote comes months after reports revealed Buttigieg's frequent use of FAA private jets, despite his advocacy for climate-friendly policies. These reports, based on Buttigieg's internal calendar obtained by APT, detailed at least 18 flights between early 2021 and mid-2022, including trips to promote public works projects and highlight federal infrastructure grants. Further information revealed that Buttigieg's senior advisors also utilized the government jets on five separate occasions without him.
Following the initial reports, the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General launched an investigation into Buttigieg's travel practices. A DOT spokesperson defended Buttigieg's actions, emphasizing that he primarily flies commercially. APT subsequently filed a lawsuit against the FAA for delays in releasing further documentation related to Buttigieg's use of government jets.
Despite the controversy surrounding Buttigieg's travel, the House ultimately passed the FAA reauthorization bill by a large margin. This legislation focuses on enhancing aviation safety, improving airport infrastructure, and bolstering passenger service quality.
