US health secretary quits over improper use of aircraft
BMJ 2017; 359 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4556 (Published 04 October 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;359:j4556- Owen Dyer
- Montreal
The Trump administration must find a new secretary of health and human services after Tom Price resigned over his extravagant use of charter and military aircraft.
The news website Politico revealed that Price had spent over $400 000 (£300 000; €340 000) of taxpayers’ money on private charters. Some flew him to hastily arranged small official events in destinations where he had vacation property or relatives, which he then also visited.
The former orthopedic surgeon from Georgia at first rebuffed the criticism, claiming that his busy schedule necessitated charter travel. But Donald Trump, who also criticized the flying habits of three cabinet officials, offered Price little support, telling reporters when questioned, “I’m not happy about it, and I let him know it.”
Price then promised to repay $51 887.31, the cost of his own seat on the charter flights. He vowed to take no more charters and …
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