DeGette And Colleagues Call Out Excessive Spending by EPA Head

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), together with other senior members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today decried further evidence of excessive spending on travel by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt: His security detail has flown with him in first class at taxpayer expense.

DeGette, who is ranking member on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, issued a joint statement with committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY) after receiving a letter from the EPA confirming the costly flights.

"As part of our ongoing review of Administrator Pruitt's waste of taxpayer money for luxury travel, EPA confirmed to us today that Pruitt's security detail has accompanied him in first class on some of his travel," the legislators said. "In recent days we've learned Administrator Pruitt has reportedly spent more than $105,000 on first class travel since last May, including some domestic flights, but it's unclear whether that figure includes the cost of his aides or security detail's travel. What is clear is that while he makes extreme cuts to critical public health and environmental protection programs, the Administrator has taken a holiday from all fiscal responsibility when it comes to his own travel and personal convenience.

"When Mr. Pruitt appears before the Energy and Commerce Committee next month, he must be prepared to explain why US taxpayers should foot the bill for his lavish travel habits."

In the letter to the Energy and Commerce Democrats, EPA Associate Administrator Troy M. Lyons wrote, "On past trips, [Pruitt's] protective service detail accompanied him in first class." EPA's letter came in response to a letter the Committee Democrats sent to the EPA last month demanding answers on outrageous reports of Pruitt's luxury travel at taxpayer expense.

EPA's letter is available here.