Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Uses Military Jet for GOP Campaign Appearances, Raising Questions About Cost and Ethics
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reportedly used a $9,000-an-hour military Gulfstream jet for campaign trips to support Republican candidates in tight races ahead of midterm elections. One such trip on August 17 involved flying to Iowa to campaign for GOP gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn and Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. This use of military aircraft is among an unspecified number of trips Kennedy has made since joining President Trump's cabinet in February 2025, according to The Washington Post. The Air Force charges $9,000 per hour for the jet, a significant contrast to a commercial flight between Washington and Des Moines, which costs approximately $250 through a government cost-saving program. Kennedy has been accompanied by bodyguards and an aide on these flights. While the White House and lawyers for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reportedly approved Kennedy's use of military aircraft, a top HHS official, Chris Klomp, had previously questioned it, leading to Ke...