Former Health Minister Tom Price wasted $ 341,000 because of a bad trip, according to a survey

For many of the trips, there was no evidence that Mr. Price and his team "examined the availability of commercial flights," the report says. Helps Mr. Price said that he was sometimes concerned about his safety and security on commercial flights, but the Inspector General said members of his security details could have been sitting near him.

Even using chartered aircraft, the report said, Mr. Price and his team did not always choose the cheapest options. They could have, for example, obtained a charter flight from Seattle to Washington, DC, for $ 75,800, instead of the $ 121,500 that the government paid. Mr. Price's wife, Betty, accompanied him on this robbery, and he reimbursed the government for the cost of his seat, but not for his, said the secretary's office report. of health. They were not retained because they were "not considered a safe and effective option for the mission".

For an international trip, Mr. Price and his aides "used a military plane but also paid a commercial flight for the same trip". the report said. The government paid $ 11,584 for unused tickets on the commercial flight and got a refund only after the investigators discovered the confusion, according to the report.

As an example of wastage, Mr. Levinson pointed out $ 36,300 spent on a three-day trip to San Diego; Aspen, Colo .; He added that the government should try to recover the funds, as well as $ 12,300 spent on a chartered flight that drove Mr. Price from Raleigh, North Carolina to Brunswick, Georgia.

Trump administration officials said they had taken steps to improve compliance with federal travel rules.

Before going on a trip, persons appointed by the Department of Health and Social Services must complete a questionnaire that will be examined by the Ethics Officers. Travelers must provide a "detailed justification" for the use of military or chartered aircraft and explain how the trip will advance the mission of the government.

On the day of the resignation of Mr. Price, the director of the Mr. Trump's budget, Mick Mulvaney, sent a memorandum to leaders of federal agencies stating that "with a few exceptions, the commercial air system used by millions of Americans every day is appropriate, even for very high officials. "