This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41450290
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
US health secretary Tom Price quits after plane scandal | US health secretary Tom Price quits after plane scandal |
(35 minutes later) | |
US Health Secretary Tom Price has resigned over the use of expensive private planes for official business. | US Health Secretary Tom Price has resigned over the use of expensive private planes for official business. |
He previously apologised after making 26 private flights since May at a cost of $400,000 (£300,000) to taxpayers. | He previously apologised after making 26 private flights since May at a cost of $400,000 (£300,000) to taxpayers. |
Government officials, except those dealing with national security matters, are required to take commercial flights for work related travel. | Government officials, except those dealing with national security matters, are required to take commercial flights for work related travel. |
Three other members of President Donald Trump's cabinet are under scrutiny for using private planes while working. | Three other members of President Donald Trump's cabinet are under scrutiny for using private planes while working. |
A White House statement said President Trump had accepted Mr Price's resignation, adding that Don J Wright had been designated as acting health secretary. | |
An investigation by the political news website Politico found that Mr Price's travels had cost more than $1m (£750,000). | An investigation by the political news website Politico found that Mr Price's travels had cost more than $1m (£750,000). |
As well as the $400,000 for private flights, that figure includes the cost of military aircraft used for Mr Price's trips abroad, Politico added. | |
President Trump had earlier said he was "not happy" with the expense. | President Trump had earlier said he was "not happy" with the expense. |
Hours before Mr Price's resignation he told White House reporters: "He's a very fine man. We're going to make a decision sometime tonight. He's a very, very fine man." | Hours before Mr Price's resignation he told White House reporters: "He's a very fine man. We're going to make a decision sometime tonight. He's a very, very fine man." |
Three other members of Mr Trump's cabinet are under scrutiny for their use of private planes while on the job: | |
As well as the Vegas-Montana trip - a route served by commercial flights - Mr Zinke is also reported to have used private jets between St Croix and St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands in March, and a military aircraft to travel to Norway in May. | |
Interior department spokeswoman Heather Swift said in a statement that, as with previous interior secretaries, Mr Zinke "travelled on charter flights when there were no commercial options available". | |
"All travel is pre-approved by the ethics office before booking and the charter flights went through an additional level of due diligence," she said. |