House Speaker John A. Boehner announced on Wednesday that members will no longer be allowed to travel by military aircraft on Congressional delegation trips.
The Ohio Republican told members that because of the spending cuts mandated by sequestration, he will cut the costs of the taxpayer funded trips by suspending the standard military aircraft and making members fly commercial.
The airfare costs would still be picked up by government funds, but it is far less expensive to fly commercial than it is to commission a military plane.
“The Speaker believes this is the prudent and responsible course of action, and it goes above and beyond the spending cuts the House will be implementing,” said a GOP aide.
Boehner has been a proponent of commercial travel since he became Speaker. He has long flown commercial to and from his district, and when he became Speaker, he pledged to continue to do so. As of December, Politifact states there is no evidence to show he has not kept that promise.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
