CREW requests Transportation records on Chao Travel

CREW requests:

1. Copies of all records concerning authorization for and the costs of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s use of non-commercial aircraft for any official travel since her confirmation on January 31, 2017.  This includes all such authorizations Secretary Chao or anyone acting on behalf of Secretary Chao sought, whether or not such authorization was granted.
2.  Records sufficient to show the amount of money budgeted for Secretary Chao’s travel, whether on a yearly or fiscal year basis, for 2017 and 2018, and the amount budgeted for the Secretary’s travel for 2016.

Recent news reports have focused on the use by agency heads of non-commercial aircraft for official government travel. The requested records would shed light on whether Secretary Chao, like other cabinet heads, has traveled on non-commercial flights for official business.  At a time of expected deep cuts to the federal budget, the taxpayers have a significant interest in learning the extent to which Secretary Chao has used government funds for travel, and the justification for that use.