How Much Did President Obama Family Vacations Cost

WASHINGTON — Equally America's first family enjoys its eighth and final holiday in Hawaii, new estimates put the price tag of the Obamas' annual trip at $iii.5 million or more than.

In full, the cost of the offset family unit's personal or largely personal travel during the terminal viii years comes to $85 million — though that is probable to climb to $90 million subsequently additional records are released, according to the conservative group Judicial Watch based on federal government records.

The cost of Air Force I and other government planes also as helicopters, cargo planes, armored cars, Secret Service protection and accelerate, communications and medical staff has led Judicial Watch to push for less personal travel.

"The Secret Service and the Air Force are being abused by unnecessary travel," Judicial Picket President Tom Fitton said. "Unnecessary presidential travel for fundraising and luxury vacations on the taxpayers' dime would be a proficient target for reform for the incoming Trump administration."

President-elect Donald Trump prefers to vacation at his own properties. He is spending Christmas at Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., where he stayed for Thanksgiving. After the election, he spent a weekend at Bedminster golf gild in New Jersey, which has fueled speculation that it could exist Trump's Campsite David.

Critics of Obama's annual vacations to Hawaii and Martha'south Vineyard say President George West. Bush-league — and possibly Trump — likely saved money because their vacation homes, including Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, were modified ane fourth dimension — some at a cost to taxpayers — and accommodated some of the traveling entourage. At Bush's ranch, some slept in trailers.

Published reports say the Trumps' Thanksgiving trip to Florida wound up costing $7 one thousand thousand. Congress recently appropriated $7 million to reimburse land and local law enforcement agencies for overtime costs associated with protecting Trump before his inauguration. Palm Beach Canton says the county spent $250,000 for security support for Trump during his four-day visit over Thanksgiving.

The White Firm defended Obama's trip to Hawaii, which is where the president was built-in and spent much of his childhood.

"Despite the security appliance that accompanies any president when traveling, the administration works with the United states Secret Service to minimize the disruptions to local residents and businesses," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. "Honolulu is a place where the president tin bask some reanimation with his family and friends and he'southward grateful for the warm hospitality he enjoys when there."

Obama has taken less vacation time than his Republican predecessor.

He'due south taken 28 vacations spanning all or part of 217 days, according to Marking Knoller, a CBS News White Business firm correspondent who maintains an administrative record of presidential activities. Those numbers do not include the latest Hawaii trip, which began Friday and is expected to cease Jan. 2.

Past comparison, President George Due west. Bush made 77 visits to his Texas ranch spanning all or function of 490 days, and xi visits to his family's home in Kennebunkport, Maine, spanning all or function of 43 days, according to Knoller.

"Like every other man being, presidents demand time to refresh or furnish," said Ken Duberstein, who served every bit President Ronald Reagan's chief of staff in his 2nd term.

Yet criticism of presidential vacations is not new and may have started with John Adams, who oft traveled from the capital to his Massachusetts dwelling house.

Even if they exercise get away, a president'due south staff and equipment follows them, as practise problems. Some presidents have had to cancel or interrupt their vacations.

"A president is never truly on vacation," said Brendan J. Doherty, a political science professor at the U.S. Naval University who tracks presidential trips. "A president might get a change of venue simply a president is never truly off the chore."

Judicial Watch recently received records revealing that Secret Service expenses for the kickoff family's 2015 Hawaiian vacation toll taxpayers $ane.two 1000000, bringing the total cost of the vacation trip to at least $4.8 million.

Secret Service costs included $i 1000000 for lodging, $166,000 on 103 automobile rentals and $68,000 for air and rail expenses. In response to some other contempo public records request near the 2015 trip, the Air Forcefulness revealed that information technology costs $180,118 per 60 minutes to fly and operate the president's plane, Air Forcefulness 1.

Judicial Sentinel has been trying to calculate the price tag of Obama personal trips for years through public records requests. It recently received records on Obama's trips to New York Urban center, Chicago, Los Angeles and Palm City, Fla., in 2014 and 2015 in which he raised money, campaigned and golfed. The group says the cost was $286,000 solely for Secret Service travel and accommodations.

Some trips included the unabridged family unit, while others included i other fellow member. Well-nigh trips of the commencement lady and daughters are not publicized and remain unknown. But Judicial Sentry has received some records about some of those trips, including the family's trip to New York and start lady Michelle Obama'due south ski trip to Aspen, Colo., too every bit several of Barack Obama's golf outings.

The beginning family pays for housing when they are on holiday. Published reports indicate that the Obamas stayed last year at the Hale Reena Manor in Hawaii, which "rents for anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000 a nighttime, depending on the flavour."

In general, the White Firm disputes the travel numbers, proverb that oft the trips include both work and personal activities. Even this yr's Hawaii vacation includes piece of work.

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Source: https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/news/2016/12/28/obama-vacations-cost-85-million/22992377007/

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