Inspector general investigating Pete Buttigieg's extensive private jet travel after Fox News Digital report

The Department of Transportation's (DOT) soul watchdog is opening an audit into Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg complete his extensive usage of backstage jets, nan agency confirmed to Fox News Digital connected Monday.

The DOT Inspector General investigation comes astir 2 months pursuing a Fox News Digital report that showed Buttigieg, who has many times based on successful favour of fierce action to combat ambiance change, has taken astatine slightest 18 flights utilizing taxpayer-funded backstage jets since taking agency successful early 2021. Flight records reviewed by Fox News Digital aligned pinch Buttigieg's soul almanac obtained astatine nan clip by authorities watchdog group Americans for Public Trust (APT).

"After Americans for Public Trust helped find Secretary Buttigieg’s excessive usage of taxpayer-funded authorities jets, we are pleased to spot that his aerial recreation is now nether investigation," APT executive head Caitlin Sutherland told Fox News Digital connected Monday. 

"Everyday Americans person faced unprecedented formation cancelations and disruptions, but Buttigieg has continued to alert private, moreover connected a Coast Guard level and moreover erstwhile commercialized options were readily available."

PETE BUTTIGIEG BROUGHT HUSBAND CHASTEN ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT TO ATTEND SPORTING EVENT IN NETHERLANDS

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks during nan National Association of Counties 2023 Legislative Conference connected Feb. 13. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

In 1 lawsuit of his usage of government-managed backstage jets, which are portion of a mini fleet managed by nan Federal Aviation Administration, Buttigieg traveled roundtrip from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas to beforehand nationalist useful projects successful Nevada successful August 2021.

In different example, Buttigieg utilized a backstage pitchy to alert to aggregate states — astir of which person mostly been considered plaything states successful caller national elections — successful August arsenic a portion of a circuit highlighting grants authorized nether nan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He jetted to Florida, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada and New Hampshire during nan travel titled "Building a Better America Tour."

The proscription caput besides took a subject craft to be nan Fifth Invictus Games successful Europe pinch his hubby Chasten Buttigieg successful April 2022. And, that aforesaid month, Buttigieg jetted disconnected to New York City connected 1 of nan authorities planes for a power question and reply and 2 little meetings earlier returning hours later.

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"We invited this independent audit moving guardant successful bid to put immoderate of nan false, outlandish, and cynical claims astir nan Secretary’s mode of recreation to rest. The truth remains that he flies commercially nan immense mostly of nan time," a DOT spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"The exceptions person been erstwhile nan Department’s profession morals officials, who person served nether some Democratic and Republican administrations, wished that nan usage of a 9-seat FAA level would beryllium either much costs effective aliases should beryllium approved for exceptional scheduling aliases information reasons," nan spokesperson added.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks during a briefing astatine nan White House connected May 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Buttigieg besides tweeted Monday that he was thankful for nan investigation and added erstwhile he uses government-managed jets, "it’s usually a business wherever doing truthful saves payer money."

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However, authorities officials person entree to nan General Services Administration's City Pair Program which enables them to alert connected a assortment of airlines astatine below-market level fares. The programme is designed to guarantee debased prices for charismatic national authorities travel.

Buttigieg's predecessor Elaine Chao, who led nan DOT passim nan Trump administration, was criticized aft it was revealed she utilized government-managed planes connected 7 occasions successful 2017, costing taxpayers astir $94,000. 

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to resign after it was reported he had costs taxpayers much than $1 cardinal utilizing authorities jets.