Pete Buttigieg’s performance as Biden’s transportation secretary is coming under increased scrutiny. He seems to be absent whenever some major problem is unfolding.
According to FOIA documents, when Buttigieg was on paternity leave during the supply chain crisis, he was avoiding calls, meetings, and public appearances.
FOX News reports:
Buttigieg avoided calls, public appearances on paternity leave, FOIA documents showTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg avoided some phone calls and requests for public appearances while he was on paternity leave in 2021, according to internal documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.Documents obtained by the group Protect the Public’s Trust show Buttigieg declined a request for a call with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in September 2021 to discuss an application for funds toward a bridge in his state.”Unfortunately, the Secretary is currently on leave due to the birth of his twins, and that may lead to a delay in possibly scheduling in the future,” a staffer emailed Grassley’s office, according to documents obtained in the FOIA request.Buttigieg similarly declined to participate in an hour-long Zoom call for an event with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce that invited him to speak.”I think we can delegate? Can say he’s on leave,” one staffer emailed internally.”Sounds good will do,” another staffer responded.Buttigeig was also invited to travel to Illinois to visit the opening of a bridge, but again declined.”The Secretary is currently out on paternity leave therefore he is unable to travel at this time,” the staffer replied in October 2021.
The Washington Examiner reminds us that Buttigieg claimed he would be available 24/7:
Scandal-ridden Pete Buttigieg skirted a meeting request from a top Republican while on paid paternity leave, even though the transportation secretary claimed he’d be on the clock “24/7” during this controversial period, emails show.Buttigieg, who came under fire for taking paternity leave in August 2021 amid the supply chain crisis, reassured CNN’s Jake Tapper in October 2021 he was “available 24/7” because of the “nature of my job.” However, the DOT rebuffed the idea of him meeting with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) roughly one month before that interview, claiming Buttigieg was unavailable due to his leave status, according to emails obtained by the watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust and shared with the Washington Examiner.”Senator Grassley would like to speak to Secretary Buttigieg about the status of a Buy American Waiver Request for the I-74 bridge,” wrote Grassley’s scheduling director, Jennifer Heins, to the DOT on Sept. 20, 2021. “Can we set up a phone call please?”The senator sought to discuss with Buttigieg an estimated $1.2 billion construction project in relation to a bridge that crosses the Mississippi River and connects Iowa to Illinois.
People are starting to note that Buttigieg may not be qualified for this position.
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