Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s trip to Italy in June totaled more than $80,000, according to new documents, as his security detail cost taxpayers nearly $31,000.
Documents previously released by the Environmental Integrity Project showed the trip, for a summit of foreign energy ministers, cost $43,000 without security costs included.
Now, new documents show the trip cost more than $84,000, for expenses such as airfare, lodging and accommodations for Pruitt’s security team.
Lawmakers have criticized Pruitt’s travel spending and travel habits. He is the first EPA administrator to have a 24-hour security detail.
The EPA leader’s judgment has been heavily scrutinized in recent weeks after the Washington Post reported Pruitt and his top aides spent more than $90,000 on travel in just the first few weeks of June.
Pruitt has deflected the criticism by saying he faces “unprecedented” security threats from taunting travelers, which has prompted EPA career security staff to grant him waivers to sit in first class. The EPA says Pruitt does not make decisions on his security detail.
“Administrator Pruitt’s security detail followed the same procedures for the G-7 environmental meeting in Italy that were used during EPA Administrators Stephen Johnson, Lisa Jackson, and Gina McCarthy’s trips to Italy,” said EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “EPA’s security procedures have not deviated over the past 14 years.”
Democrats last month asked the EPA’s inspector general to expand an existing probe of Pruitt’s travel to include his first-class flights.
The investigation currently covers Pruitt’s frequent travel to and from his home state of Oklahoma and his use of private and government planes.
