{"slug":"trump-first-term-tom-price-private-jets-resignation","title":"Tom Price: $1 Million in Private Jet Travel as HHS Secretary, Resigned After Public Disclosure","date":"2017-05-02","lastUpdated":"2017-09-29","description":"Tom Price, Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services, resigned on September 29, 2017 after it was revealed he had spent approximately $1 million in taxpayer funds on private jet flights for official travel when commercial flights were available. Price took at least 24 private flights between May and September 2017, using military jets for longer trips and chartering private jets for shorter domestic routes at costs that were dozens of times higher than equivalent commercial travel. The disclosures followed reporting by Politico and subsequently by other outlets.","summary":"Price's private jet use was revealed by Politico, which reported in September 2017 that he had taken multiple private charter flights at costs far exceeding commercial alternatives — including a $25,000 flight from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, a route served by Amtrak trains for under $80 and commercial flights for under $200. After the initial Politico report, additional flights were disclosed including trips to Europe, Africa, and Asia on military aircraft. Trump initially said he was 'not happy' about the reports while keeping Price in office, then accepted Price's resignation on September 29, 2017. Price offered to reimburse approximately $52,000 — the cost of his seat only on the flights — but not the full charter costs.","category":"corruption","severity":"significant","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/28/tom-price-private-planes-taxpayers-243349","title":"Tom Price's Private Jet Scandal: All You Need to Know","publisher":"Politico"},{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/us/politics/tom-price-resigns-private-jets.html","title":"Tom Price Resigns After Controversy Over Use of Private Jets","publisher":"The New York Times"},{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/price-resigns-amid-scrutiny-over-private-jet-flights/2017/09/29/story.html","title":"Tom Price resigns as HHS secretary amid controversy over use of private planes","publisher":"The Washington Post"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["Price","HHS","first-term","corruption","private-jets","cabinet-spending","resignation"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"2017-05-02","title":"Price begins private charter travel as HHS Secretary","summary":"Price takes his first private charter flights as HHS Secretary. He will take at least 24 such flights between May and September 2017, accumulating approximately $1 million in travel costs."},{"date":"2017-09-19","title":"Politico reports first domestic charter flights — D.C. to Philadelphia for $25,000","summary":"Politico reports that Price has been chartering private jets for domestic travel, including a $25,000 flight from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia. The route is served by Amtrak for under $80 and commercial flights for under $200. Additional flights are subsequently disclosed."},{"date":"2017-09-27","title":"Military aircraft flights disclosed — international travel revealed","summary":"Additional reporting reveals Price also used military aircraft for international travel to Africa, Europe, and Asia. The total cost of his travel reaches approximately $1 million. Price offers to reimburse only his seat costs — approximately $52,000 — not the full charter and military aircraft costs."},{"date":"2017-09-29","title":"Price resigns — Trump accepts after initial 'not happy' response","summary":"Price submits his resignation and Trump accepts it on September 29, 2017. Price had served 259 days as HHS Secretary. He was the first cabinet member to resign from the Trump administration due to ethics controversies."}],"location":{"name":"Washington, D.C.","lat":38.9072,"lng":-77.0369},"custom":{"era":"first-term","posture":"reported","warCrimeClassification":"enabling","internationalLaw":[],"iccRelevance":false,"victims":"Federal taxpayers whose funds were spent on luxury travel when commercial alternatives were available; the norm of public service in which cabinet officials use taxpayer resources for necessary official functions rather than personal comfort","structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Tom Price","role":"HHS Secretary; took at least 24 private flights at approximately $1 million total cost when commercial alternatives were available; offered partial reimbursement of seat costs only; resigned after public disclosure","institution":"Department of Health and Human Services"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2017-09-29","summary":"Based on September 2017 resignation reporting."}]}}