A top U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) official responsible for signing off on former Secretary Tom Price’s expensive private jet travel, is resigning according to the agency.
John Bardis, who has been under investigation regarding Price’s use of charter jet flights, will officially resign April 6, Politico reported. Bardis helped oversee a program to reduce the agencies costs and has reportedly been complying with the HHS inspector general’s office, which is conducting the investigation.
The news comes after the former HHS secretary resigned in October after he spent nearly one million dollars in taxpayer money on air travel since beginning his tenure. This includes military flights on a Gulfstream jet through Europe and Africa. Price also traveled domestically on private jets paid for by taxpayers, including on a short flight from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia. (RELATED: White House Restricts Private Jet Use After Price Resigns)
“I am deeply grateful to President Trump, Secretary Azar, Secretary Price, and Deputy Secretary Hargan for the opportunity to work on the American people’s behalf at HHS,” Bardis said in a statement to Politico, also saying he was grateful for “their real passion for advancing the quality of American health care and human services.”
Before leaving, Price paid nearly $52,000 to the government to reimburse part of his private jet travel.
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