WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing renewed scrutiny over his repeated trips to Florida to watch his son play college football, after a report estimated that government aircraft used for travel to Gainesville cost taxpayers more than $1.2 million. Rubio’s team is defending the journeys, arguing that the secretary is required to use military aircraft for security and government-continuity reasons and must reimburse the government for personal travel.
The controversy followed a Washington Post investigation published November 11, which examined flight records and State Department information relating to Rubio’s visits to the University of Florida, where his son Anthony Rubio is a walk-on running back for the Florida Gators.
According to the newspaper, Rubio has attended at least 10 Gators games since becoming secretary of state and made at least 23 trips to Gainesville aboard government aircraft. The State Department classified 15 of those journeys as solely personal, while others were considered mixed-use trips.
Using hourly aircraft rates published by the U.S. Department of Defense, The Washington Post estimated that the flights cost the government approximately $1.2 million. That figure is the newspaper’s calculation of the aircraft operating costs; it is not a publicly disclosed accounting of Rubio’s personal reimbursements.
State Department Says Military Travel Is Required
Rubio’s representatives maintain that the flights are consistent with security rules governing senior national security officials. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said the secretary uses military aircraft to preserve continuity of operations and government, as well as continuous access to secure communications.
Under longstanding federal protocols, officials in certain senior national security positions, including the secretary of state, are required to use government aircraft even when travelling for personal reasons. They are generally required to reimburse the government an amount equivalent to the cost of a commercial economy-class ticket for personal travel.
Rubio told The Washington Post that he would continue trying to attend events that matter to him and his family whenever his responsibilities allow. However, the secretary and the State Department declined to disclose how much he has reimbursed for the trips examined in the report.
Johnson also pushed back against criticism of the flights and comparisons with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In comments reported by Fox News, Johnson argued that Rubio is a mandatory user of military aircraft, while Buttigieg was not subject to the same requirement.
Karoline Leavitt Defends Rubio
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in on the debate, responding to the reporting with a message of support for Rubio. “Washington Post confirms Secretary Rubio is a great dad,” she wrote, framing his attendance at his son’s games as an example of parental commitment.
The remark added a personal dimension to an argument that has largely centred on public spending, official travel rules and the responsibilities attached to high-level government office. Supporters say Rubio should not be criticised for making an effort to support his son, while critics argue that frequent personal journeys on costly government aircraft deserve greater transparency.
The Guardian’s coverage of the report noted that ethics watchdogs questioned the frequency and public cost of the journeys, while also acknowledging that Rubio’s use of government aircraft is tied to rules that apply to his position.
A Question Of Transparency And Public Accountability
The dispute highlights a distinction between whether an official is permitted to use government aircraft and whether the frequency of personal travel represents responsible stewardship of public resources. Ethics specialists quoted by The Washington Post said the trips appeared to comply with existing rules, but raised questions about judgment, transparency and the public expense associated with repeated travel.
The issue has also revived attention to Rubio’s previous criticism of government-aircraft use. As a senator in 2023, he called for an investigation into the travel practices of Buttigieg, arguing that taxpayers deserved assurances that public funds were not being wasted. The inspector general ultimately found that Buttigieg had complied with applicable rules.
For now, Rubio’s team is standing by the secretary’s travel arrangements, while the exact amount he has repaid remains undisclosed. The debate is likely to continue around two competing considerations: the security requirements attached to the office of secretary of state and the expectation that public officials exercise restraint and transparency when government resources are used for personal commitments.
Sources: The Washington Post, Fox News, and The Guardian.