State Department official blasts 'moronic' Washington Post report on Marco Rubio's required military flights
A State Department official blasted The Washington Post on Wednesday for publishing a 'moronic' report criticizing Secretary of State Marco Rubio for using military aircraft when he is required to do so.
The Post published a story titled 'Flying by pricey military jet, Rubio rarely misses a Florida football game,' which noted that the Secretary of State 'is required to travel by government plane' when visiting his alma mater, where his son currently plays on the team. The piece characterized Rubio's trips as a 'cost to taxpayers,' and reported that his personal flights 'have cost the government more than $1.2 million.'
Required Travel
The Washington Post article explained that 'Like the defense secretary and the directors of the FBI and CIA, Rubio is barred from flying commercially for security reasons and is required, when traveling for personal reasons, to reimburse the government the equivalent of an economy-fare ticket.' The article noted that 'Officials' reimbursements are rarely made public, but the amounts required cover only a fraction of the true cost, occasionally leading to scrutiny and controversy for Republican and Democratic appointees alike.'
I have and will continue to try and make it to as many events that are important to me personally and to my family as possible.
Department Response
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson criticized the report on X, saying the 'Post's own story quotes watchdogs saying this isn't a story and there's nothing here.' Johnson noted that the Secretary of State is required to use military aircraft, Rubio is 'entirely unapologetic and will continue to attend as many of his family's events as his jobs allow,' he reimburses the government for personal travel and that the Buttigieg comparison is 'moronic' because the former transportation secretary's position did not require him to use military aircraft.
Public Reaction
The report drew criticism on social media, with former White House press advisor Pat Adams writing: 'The Washington Post is trying to make a scandal out of Secretary Rubio traveling to attend his son's football games. They admit he's required to travel by government plane and that his trips all comply with federal rules, but they published the story anyway to suggest impropriety.' Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote: 'Washington Post confirms Secretary Rubio is a great dad.'
The Post's report also noted that 'senior officials have long used government planes for occasional personal travel,' adding that the practice became a requirement in 1993. The State Department did not immediately respond when asked for additional comment, and neither did The Washington Post to a request for comment.
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