Tom Price says he's going to pay the government back for all those chartered flights — but there's a catch


Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has been in hot water this week over reports he chartered private planes for routine government travel. Politico first reported Price's use of private planes last week, alleging the health secretary took at least 26 private flights on taxpayers' dime, incurring charges of more than $400,000.
On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services released a statement from Price, in which he said he would not take any more chartered flights while serving as health secretary, "no exceptions," and promised to reimburse the government. "The taxpayers won't pay a dime for my seat on those planes," Price said in the statement.
But Fox News' Fin Gomez reported Thursday afternoon that a senior source at HHS said Price will pay exactly $51,887.31 back to the federal government for the flights — roughly 13 percent of the total cost incurred. In other words, it seems Price intends to pay the government back for only his seat on the private planes, which would not have been chartered in the first place had Price not chartered them:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
President Trump on Wednesday said he was "not happy" with Price's travel choices, and would not firmly say he wouldn't fire Price over the flights. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that a determination on Price's tenure with the White House wouldn't be made until after the matter had been thoroughly reviewed, but noted Trump had made clear his disapproval of Price's decisions.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off