EPA chief may forgo 1st class flights amid growing scrutiny
Scott Pruitt
WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he may start flying in coach amid increasing scrutiny of claims that he needs to fly first class because of security concerns .  EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt  said in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday  he  had instructed  his  staff to make changes that could include flying coach . " What I ' ve told them going forward is this : There is a change occurring   you ' re going to accommodate the security threats as they exist   you ' re going to accommodate those in all ways   alternate ways   up to and including flying coach   and that is what ' s going to happen on my very next flight  "  Pruitt  said . " So those things are happening right away ." That ' s a significant shift since last month   when  Pruitt  said in interviews that  his  chief of staff and security team had determined  he  should fly in premium class seats following some unpleasant interactions with other passengers . Asked what had changed in the assessment of what was needed to keep  Pruitt  safe   EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox referred back to  Pruitt '  s CBS interview and declined to provide any additional context or comment . Since taking office last year    Pruitt  has been unusually secretive about  his  frequent air travel . In a break from  his  predecessors   Pruitt ' s office consistently refuses to provide advance public notice of  his  trips   typically releasing a schedule of  his  meetings and appearances only after they have occurred . Following recent media reports about Pruitt ' s pricey airfare   the Republican - led House Oversight committee last week demanded copies of  his  travel records to be provided by March 6 . EPA ' s inspector general is also auditing Pruitt ' s 2017 travel costs . Federal regulations allow government travelers to fly business class or first class when no cheaper options are " reasonably available " or if there are exceptional security circumstances . Wilcox told reporters last month that  Pruitt  had obtained a " blanket waiver " allowing  him  to take premium flights . Such a blanket waivers are also barred under federal rules   however   and Wilcox later said  Pruitt  was granted separate waivers by ethics officials for each flight . EPA has declined to provide any public explanation of its evolving account and has thus far refused to release copies of the waivers allowing  Pruitt  to fly first class . The Associated Press is among several organizations that has sought a full accounting of  Pruitt  ' s travel and security expenses under the Freedom of Information Act . Though some records were released following lawsuits filed against the agency   EPA has so far refused to say how much public money has been spent for  Pruitt  and  his  staff to travel across the country and on international trips . The limited records that have been provided show  Pruitt  ' s airfare is often several times more expensive than that of aides booked on the same flights . Often   those trips have included weekend - long layovers in  Pruitt  ' s home state of Oklahoma . Last month    Pruitt  said there were some " incidents " on flights that prompted  his  need for first - class seats . EPA has refused requests from AP to provide any details about those incidents .  Pruitt  is the first EPA administrator to require around - the - clock protection from an armed security detail .  He  has also taken other security precautions   including the addition of a $ 25   000 soundproof " privacy booth " inside  his  office to prevent eavesdropping on  his  phone calls and spending $ 3   000 to have  his  office swept for hidden listening devices . ___ Follow AP environmental writer Michael Biesecker at http :// Twitter . com / mbieseck The Associated Press .
WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency says he may start flying in coach amid increasing scrutiny of claims that he needs to fly first class because of security concerns .  [TGT]said in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday  [TGT]  had instructed  [TGT]  staff to make changes that could include flying coach . " What I ' ve told them going forward is this : There is a change occurring   you ' re going to accommodate the security threats as they exist   you ' re going to accommodate those in all ways   alternate ways   up to and including flying coach   and that is what ' s going to happen on my very next flight  "  [TGT]said . " So those things are happening right away ." That ' s a significant shift since last month   when  [TGT]said in interviews that  [TGT]  chief of staff and security team had determined  [TGT]  should fly in premium class seats following some unpleasant interactions with other passengers . Asked what had changed in the assessment of what was needed to keep  [TGT]safe   EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox referred back to  Pruitt '  s CBS interview and declined to provide any additional context or comment . Since taking office last year    [TGT]has been unusually secretive about  [TGT]  frequent air travel . In a break from  [TGT]  predecessors   [TGT] office consistently refuses to provide advance public notice of  his  trips   typically releasing a schedule of  his  meetings and appearances only after they have occurred . Following recent media reports about [TGT] ' s pricey airfare   the Republican - led House Oversight committee last week demanded copies of  his  travel records to be provided by March 6 . EPA ' s inspector general is also auditing Pruitt ' s 2017 travel costs . Federal regulations allow government travelers to fly business class or first class when no cheaper options are " reasonably available " or if there are exceptional security circumstances . Wilcox told reporters last month that  [TGT]had obtained a " blanket waiver " allowing  [TGT]  to take premium flights . Such a blanket waivers are also barred under federal rules   however   and Wilcox later said  [TGT]was granted separate waivers by ethics officials for each flight . EPA has declined to provide any public explanation of its evolving account and has thus far refused to release copies of the waivers allowing  Pruitt  to fly first class . The Associated Press is among several organizations that has sought a full accounting of  [TGT] s travel and security expenses under the Freedom of Information Act . Though some records were released following lawsuits filed against the agency   EPA has so far refused to say how much public money has been spent for  Pruitt  and  his  staff to travel across the country and on international trips . The limited records that have been provided show  [TGT]' s airfare is often several times more expensive than that of aides booked on the same flights . Often   those trips have included weekend - long layovers in  Pruitt  ' s home state of Oklahoma . Last month    [TGT]said there were some " incidents " on flights that prompted  [TGT]  need for first - class seats . EPA has refused requests from AP to provide any details about those incidents .  [TGT]is the first EPA administrator to require around - the - clock protection from an armed security detail .  [TGT]  has also taken other security precautions   including the addition of a $ 25   000 soundproof " privacy booth " inside  [TGT]  office to prevent eavesdropping on  [TGT]  phone calls and spending $ 3   000 to have  [TGT]  office swept for hidden listening devices . ___ Follow AP environmental writer Michael Biesecker at http :// Twitter . com / mbieseck The Associated Press .