Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., introduced legislation last week that would require all Cabinet officials to submit travel logs each month and ban them from flying first class.
The FLY Act comes on the heels of reports that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and other Cabinet-level officials took extravagant trips on the taxpayers’ dime.
Under Norman’s bill, the head of each federal agency would have to submit travel logs from the prior month to the Government Accountability Office. If an agency failed to submit any logs at the end of a quarter, the budget for the official’s office would be cut by 1 percent.
Norman’s bill is tougher than current law, which only requires a report if more than $5 million is spent on transportation.
“By requiring the heads of the agencies to report their travel, those in power will be held accountable for how they utilize taxpayer dollars, encouraging them to do so efficiently and not abuse their position by going on luxurious trips,” Norman’s office said in a statement. “While many in the Trump administration are being criticized for improper use of taxpayer dollars for travel, and some even resigning as a result, this is not a new issue.”
