Former White House Officials Under Fire For Lavish Travel
As the Trump administration continues its sweep of post-Biden policy reversals, new revelations from the State Department are raising eyebrows—and blood pressure—over just how lavish and loosely managed taxpayer-funded advocacy became during the Biden years.
At the center of the storm is Jessica Stern, the now-former Special Envoy for LGBT Rights, whose travel patterns, expense irregularities, and tone-deaf email trail have become a lightning rod in the broader debate over government accountability.
Jessica Stern's job title was long and lofty: Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons. But behind the scenes, it appears the position operated more like a global luxury tour—funded by American taxpayers, punctuated by bureaucratic clashes, and laden with questionable requests.
According to internal emails obtained by The Daily Wire and documents sourced by the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), Stern repeatedly failed to report travel expenses on time, requested extravagant accommodations—including a $7,000 rental van for a week in Rome—and demanded attention for in-flight vegetarian meal mishaps. While Americans at home were tightening budgets, Stern was sending “urgent” messages to federal staffers about her dinner options at 30,000 feet.
Stern’s spending habits eventually triggered internal resistance. After requesting up to $4,000 for car services in Italy, senior State Department officials flatly denied her. “No, I do not think that $3k for a car for five days can be supported,” replied Christopher Le Mon, a deputy assistant secretary. “It’s inappropriate to keep asking for several thousand dollars for a car.”
Even more troubling, officials revealed that while most offices had submitted prior year expense records, Stern’s office remained silent. When finally pressed, Stern admitted, “I don’t know where we would get our expenses.” The admission wasn’t just sloppy—it exposed a broader culture of indifference to oversight.
Meanwhile, another line item revealed $42,000 spent by Stern and a fellow official over just five months. That tab included interpreters, travel perks, and even an “overtime photographer” documenting her advocacy trips to countries like Nepal, Peru, and Hungary.
The Trump administration has now officially eliminated the LGBT Special Envoy role, calling the position a taxpayer-funded platform for ideological activism rather than a legitimate diplomatic necessity. “The Biden era of using government resources for LGBT advocacy is over,” declared CASA Director James Fitzpatrick. “The American people are sick and tired of this type of irresponsible behavior.”
Stern’s actions—especially in contrast with widespread economic hardship among American families—have become a rallying point for critics of bloated, unaccountable federal offices that promote niche agendas while dodging transparency.