Tom Price Source Bing.com
Introduction
Tom Price, former US Health Secretary, made headlines in 2017 for his frequent use of private jets for official government business, which cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The controversy surrounding Price’s use of private jets eventually led to his resignation from the Trump administration. However, recent news suggests that Price may still be using private jets for personal travel, raising questions about his ethical conduct.
Price’s Use of Private Jets
Price’s use of private jets first came to light in September 2017, when Politico reported that he had taken at least 26 private flights on government business, costing taxpayers over $400,000. This was a significant departure from the practices of previous Health Secretaries, who had typically flown commercial for official travel.
Tom Price Private Jet Source Bing.com
The controversy intensified when it was revealed that some of Price’s trips were to locations where he owned property or had family members, suggesting that the trips were not entirely for official business. Price initially defended his use of private jets, arguing that it was necessary for security and scheduling reasons, but eventually apologized and pledged to repay the cost of his seat on the flights.
Price’s Resignation
The controversy over Price’s use of private jets ultimately led to his resignation from his position as Health Secretary in September 2017. President Trump accepted Price’s resignation, stating that he was “not happy” with the optics of the situation and that “we don’t like the optics.”
Tom Price Resignation Source Bing.com
Price’s departure was seen as a blow to the Trump administration, which had been struggling to pass a major healthcare bill at the time. His replacement, Alex Azar, was confirmed as Health Secretary in January 2018.
Recent News
Despite his resignation, recent news suggests that Price may still be using private jets for personal travel. In February 2021, the Washington Post reported that Price had flown on a private jet to an event in Florida, which was not related to government business. The event was hosted by a healthcare company that had previously employed Price.
Tom Price News Source Bing.com
The report raised questions about whether Price was using his previous government position for personal gain and whether he was living up to his promise to avoid unnecessary travel expenses. Price has not commented on the report.
Conclusion
The controversy over Tom Price’s use of private jets for government business may have faded from the headlines, but recent news suggests that questions about his ethical conduct persist. As long as public officials use taxpayer money for travel, they will be held to high standards of accountability and transparency.
