Press releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today attached an amendment to the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act which would prohibit taxpayer money from being used to pay for first-class airline tickets for federal government employees. This prohibition would apply to cabinet secretaries and assistant secretaries as well as to senior and junior staff members.  The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Commerce found that federal employees have been misusing allowable upgrades to ride first class in 56% of cases. 

“Between 2012 and 2014, government employees spent an extra $1 million in taxpayer dollars to fly first class.  That is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer money.  Government workers shouldn’t travel like the champagne and caviar crowd on the taxpayers’ dime,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “My amendment makes it clear that no one, including an agency head, should fly first class on the taxpayers’ dime.”

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