Congressional Perks: Congress spends on pricey airfare, lodging and private jets.
Members of Congress regularly commute between Washington, D.C., and their home districts with taxpayers paying the tab, but some choose to spend more than others – a few even charter private jets, an investigation by The Center Square found.
When it came to charter – or private airplane – travel, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., was the top spender with nearly $63,000 paid for charter flights since 2019. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., was second, paying $18,295 in the same time period for five flights from Executive Aircraft Leasing, LLC., data from the Members’ Representational Allowance data shows.
When it comes to overall travel expenses, the office of U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, was in the top three of both airfare and lodging for all of Congress since 2019, including some pricey reimbursements to himself – not airline or charter companies – for flights.
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said there have to be better controls on travel to avoid abuses.
Maybe don’t let them anywhere near DC. Couldn’t hurt.
Anyone actually believe this? pic.twitter.com/pzsZ4afvme
— Financelot (@FinanceLancelot) November 6, 2025
BREAKING: ELON has COMMUNITY NOTED DONALD! pic.twitter.com/XvPzbOKCeB
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) November 6, 2025
JUST IN: Secretary Bessent says some sectors of US economy “already in recession”
35% chance of a recession by 2026
— Kalshi (@Kalshi) November 6, 2025
“inflation is down”
– Fucking morons in Trump administration pic.twitter.com/zoOIlGpeny
— Darth Powell (@VladTheInflator) November 6, 2025
Too bad the wages don’t always go up https://t.co/ODqPsD0hfd
— K. (@IbaraEleven) November 6, 2025
The Top 1% of U.S. earners now have more wealth than the entire middle class pic.twitter.com/mwrvAdiS75
— Barchart (@Barchart) November 7, 2025
Consumer Sentiment now nearing a record low.
Everything’s fine. pic.twitter.com/k1xnm9Y2KX
— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) November 7, 2025
JUST IN: Job postings on Indeed at lowest level since February 2021
— Kalshi (@Kalshi) November 7, 2025
