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Thursday, March 28, 2024

GAO: Secret Service Overpaid At Least $3.9 Million to Presidential Campaigns for Travel Expenses

A GAO report found that the Secret Service overpaid the presidential campaign committees at least an estimated $3.9 million when reimbursing them for special agents’ seats on charter flights.

The U.S. Secret Service’s travel expenses during the 2016 presidential campaign totaled approximately $58 million. Of the $58 million, $17.1 million was for reimbursements to the four campaign committees for chartered aircraft flights. In the case of campaign travel, Secret Service special agents often fly with protected individuals on aircraft chartered by the campaign committees. The Secret Service reimburses the campaign committees for the number of seats occupied by special agents on board each charter flight.

For the 40 overnight trips GAO reviewed, the Secret Service generally followed its policies and regulations for lodging payments. However, GAO found that the agency overpaid the campaign committees at least an estimated $3.9 million when reimbursing them for special agents’ seats on charter flights. Since at least 1977, the Secret Service’s policy has been to pay the lower of two fares when reimbursing campaign committees for special agents’ travel on chartered aircraft flights. Specifically, the Secret Service is to pay the lower of the following two fares: the lowest commercially available first-class airfare, or the pro rata fare — the cost of the agent’s seat on the charter flight calculated by taking the total cost of the charter divided by the number of passengers on board.

However, during the 2016 presidential campaign, Secret Service officials misinterpreted a Federal Election Commission regulation, and as a result did not conduct the comparison. Instead, the Secret Service solely paid the pro rata fare to the campaign committees. Eight months before the end of the 2016 presidential campaign, Secret Service officials determined the interpretation was erroneous, but did not ensure the agency reverted to its longstanding policy. During these eight months, 66 percent of all campaign-related flights with special agents on board were taken.

GAO recommends that the director complete the process of calculating the amounts of its overpayments to the campaign committees for special agents’ seats on chartered aircraft during the 2016 presidential campaign, and determine how it should proceed with respect to collecting on identified debts. It also recommends that the director require in policy and practice that the directives control point be notified when the Office of the Chief Counsel provides advice to offices that is likely to result in policy changes, and should assess its existing control activities and implement appropriate mechanisms to help ensure compliance with the agency’s travel cost policies during presidential campaigns. Finally the report recommends that the director update the charter aircraft reimbursement policy.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, called it, “unacceptable the Secret Service overpaid millions in travel expenses to the campaign committees during the 2016 presidential election cycle.”

“Worse yet, they did not fix the error when it was discovered months before the election. Proper stewardship of Secret Service travel expenses is critical as they are paid by the American taxpayer – not the campaigns,” Thompson said in a statement.

“Under the Trump administration, the Secret Service has consistently faced budget shortfalls as it protects the extended Trump family on its exorbitant trips around the world. The money that the agency needlessly and erroneously paid the campaigns is sorely needed to help fund critical Secret Service activities that have faced recent budget cuts – including investigations into cyber and financial crimes.”

Thompson said it is “imperative that the Secret Service collects these overpayments from the campaigns, as is required, and makes sure there is a system in place to ensure payments are proper going forward.”

“Further, I remain concerned that President Trump continues to profit off the Secret Service and the American taxpayer, as payments for agents’ travel costs are transferred from federal coffers to his campaign and eventually to entities in the Trump Organization,” he added. “The Trump administration and Congress must address the blatant conflicts of interest and corruption caused by the president’s refusal to divest his business interests and disclose his tax returns.”

GAO: Secret Service Overpaid At Least $3.9 Million to Presidential Campaigns for Travel Expenses Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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