WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.), chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, asked 20 agencies under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction to disclose in writing how often they’re booking first class air travel.

“Ensuring that taxpayers’ hard-earned money is well-spent is one of our most important responsibilities as members of the Appropriations Committee,” write Sens. Kennedy and Coons.  “Accordingly, we are deeply concerned by frivolous and wasteful spending on premium-class airline tickets for government employees.”

Under the Federal Travel Regulation, most federal employees are prohibited from purchasing first class and business class tickets for work travel.  The letters requested information and records on business air travel from the last two quarters of fiscal year 2019 to ensure federal employees aren’t using taxpayer money to purchase luxury flights.

An example of the senators’ full letter is below.

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