US Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Visits Ukraine

Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. secretary of transportation, speaks at the port of Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Nov. 8 to meet with top Ukrainian leaders.

Mr. Buttigieg met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior government officials to discuss the country’s economic recovery and the effect of the war on its supply chains.

He and the senior leaders spoke about “advancing Ukraine’s economic recovery and efforts to return Ukraine to economic self-sufficiency, including via supporting investments in transportation infrastructure and reforms that will support a return to private-sector-led growth,” according to a U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) statement.

During the visit, Mr. Buttigieg announced the appointment of a senior-level adviser who will provide Kyiv with technical assistance and “share best practices on infrastructure project delivery.”

Robert Mariner, who has previously worked for the U.S. Air Force and Navy on transportation in an engineering role and has “decades” of experience, has been selected for the role of transportation adviser to Ukraine, the department said.

Mr. Mariner served at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, as a transportation counselor.

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“The U.S. Department of Transportation, in coordination with the State Department, has coordinated similar advisory roles in U.S. embassies in Iraq and Afghanistan,” the department said.

‘Steadfast’ Commitment

Annie Petsonk, the DOT’s assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, accompanied Mr. Buttigieg on the trip, which officials said is part of the Biden administration’s “steadfast commitment to Ukraine,” which has been at war with Russia since February 2022.

Last week, the Biden administration announced it would provide $425 million worth of additional military aid and equipment to Ukraine to meet its battlefield needs.

After landing in Kyiv, Mr. Buttigieg wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he has been in “close contact” with his Ukrainian counterpart, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, since Russia began its invasion.

He said the two have regularly discussed the conflict’s effect on global supply chains, particularly regarding ports and rail infrastructure. Mr. Buttigieg added that Mr. Mariner will provide technical assistance to help with Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts.

“It’s one of countless ways the U.S. continues to stand with the people of Ukraine for the long haul and ensure its connection to the world,” he said.

Republicans Seek to Slash Buttigieg’s Pay

Mr. Buttigieg’s visit to Ukraine came just one day after the House of Representatives approved a measure aimed at slashing his taxpayer-funded salary to $1 per year.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) under the Holman Rule, which allows amendments to appropriations legislation that would cut the salary of or fire federal employees.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks to reporters as House Republicans hold a caucus meeting at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington on Oct. 13, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The legislation came about because of GOP lawmakers’ concerns that Mr. Buttigieg was taking taxpayer-funded trips on private planes, including to swing states such as Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada, and New Hampshire.

Mr. Buttigieg is currently facing a lawsuit filed by a conservative watchdog group, Americans for Public Trust, over the trips that were allegedly paid for using taxpayer money.

“The Secretary travels by commercial airline the vast majority of the time and has directed that travel and logistical decisions be grounded in efficient and responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” a DOT spokesperson told the New York Post in a statement.

“The exceptions have been when the Department’s career ethics officials, who have served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, determined that the use of a 9-seat FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] aircraft would be either more cost-effective or should be approved for exceptional scheduling or security reasons.”

Reuters contributed to this report.