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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Salon is reporting, based on an analysis from Accountable.US, that the Trump Treasury Department has so far rewarded the private jet industry with nearly $300 million in bailout funds under the CARES Act, including at least $55 million for seven companies with ties to Trump donors. Meanwhile, the administration opposes additional federal unemployment benefits for tens of millions of laid-off workers who are struggling to get by in the Trump recession.

“President Trump keeps bailing out private jet companies who have helped him financially while opposing additional help for workers struggling to pay rent and feed their families,” said Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US, the government watchdog group behind TrumpBailouts.org. “It is long past time for the administration to prioritize help for average Americans and small businesses who need it most rather than luxury industries that are already flying high.”

 
KEY POINTS FROM SALON.COM

  • The Treasury Department has doled out nearly $300 million in bailout funds to 70 private jet companies, according to TrumpBailouts, a website launched by the progressive watchdog Accountable.US to track the recipients of the funds.
  • Cirrus Aviation, self-described as “by far the largest private jet charter operator in Las Vegas,” provided private jets for Trump’s Las Vegas hotel for a $620,000 engagement package. Forbes described it as “for the billionaire who has everything, except a spouse.” Despite reports that coronavirus has resulted in an increase in revenue for the private jet industry, Cirrus Aviation received nearly $1.9 million in bailout funds.
  • A company founded by a major Trump donor, Clay Lacy Aviation, received $27 million in bailout funds. Since April, Accountable.US identified six additional private jet companies connected to Trump donors, bringing the total to about $55 million in bailouts.
  • Under the CARES Act, New York Stewart International Airport received $6.4 million in taxpayer money. They’re in the bidding process to be the “future headquarters” of Trump’s Space Force project and reportedly house Trump’s $100 million personal private jet. 

  • According to TrumpBailouts.org, Pegasus Elite Aviation, founded by a Trump campaign and pro-Trump super PACs donor, received more than $3.6 million in bailout funds.
Accountable.US has been tracking the administration’s response to COVID-19. TrumpBailouts.org documents the billion-dollar corporations and other large companies that have received taxpayer assistance under the CARES Act, and what advantages and assets they had going into the COVID-19 crisis that most small businesses could never access.

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