The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would reduce Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s government salary to just $1. The measure, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, was approved on Tuesday as an amendment to the 2024 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. Greene criticized Buttigieg in a social media post, accusing him of using taxpayer-funded private planes and staging fake bike rides to the White House. She argued that American taxpayers should not have to pay for his extravagant trips or salary.
Buttigieg has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers since taking office in 2021. They have accused him of failing to address various crises in the Department of Transportation, such as the derailment of a train carrying dangerous gas in Ohio. There have also been multiple instances of mass airline cancelations during his tenure, leading to calls for him to take decisive action to protect air travelers.
Furthermore, Buttigieg has come under scrutiny for his use of government-managed private jets. He has reportedly used these jets on at least 18 occasions since taking office, costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. In one instance, he used a government jet for a roundtrip journey to Montreal, where he received an award for his contributions to LGBTQ rights.
Buttigieg’s office has been uncooperative in providing additional information about his use of the executive fleet. The ongoing inspector general probe and a lawsuit from Americans for Public Trust (APT) seek to uncover the true cost of these trips. APT’s executive director, Caitlin Sutherland, accused Buttigieg of disregarding the American people’s desire for transparency and accountability.
In addition to these controversies, Buttigieg faced criticism last year for vacationing in Porto, Portugal, while his agency and the White House were engaged in negotiations with rail worker unions. The Department of Transportation defended the vacation as a long-planned personal trip.
The bill to reduce Buttigieg’s salary now awaits further action in the Senate. Critics argue that Buttigieg has not fulfilled his responsibilities as transportation secretary and should not receive a salary for his alleged lack of performance.
