A senior State Department official is pushing back on a Washington Post report about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s use of military aircraft to attend University of Florida football games, where his son plays.
The Post reported that Rubio’s personal flights have cost the government more than $1.2 million.
The same report noted that Rubio is barred from flying commercially for security reasons and must travel by government plane, and that he must reimburse the government the equivalent of an economy fare for personal trips. The Post wrote that such reimbursements cover only a fraction of the true cost.
A government ethics expert quoted by the paper said the travel complies with federal rules but raises a question about the stewardship of public money.
Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson responded on X, calling the Post’s comparison to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg “moronic,” because that job did not require military aircraft.
He said Rubio reimburses the government and will keep attending family events as his work allows.
Rubio told the Post he will continue trying to attend events that matter to him personally. The Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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