The Climate Junket Must Go On: Biden-Harris Officials Jet to Amazon Before Funds Dry Up

November 19, 2024

One week after Biden-Harris administration officials enjoyed their taxpayer funded trip to Baku for COP29, the administration has now sent a delegation to the Amazon rainforest, even as their days in office (and their agenda) are numbered. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January, departing officials are scrambling to enjoy one last taxpayer-funded junket before their access to public funds dries up. This misuse of taxpayer dollars is not just wasteful; it’s an insult to the American people who have resoundingly rejected the administration’s radical climate agenda. According to Reuters:

“Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies meet on Tuesday to discuss sustainable development and the transition to cleaner energy, as they aim to increase the odds of a successful deal to address global warming at U.N. climate talks in Azerbaijan.”

The G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro is yet another example of the climate elite’s obsession with globe-trotting and virtue signaling. While leaders discuss sustainable development and energy transitions, the Biden-Harris officials are more interested in securing their next gig and enjoying a taxpayer-funded vacation in the Amazon rainforest. This trip will do nothing to address climate change but will certainly add to the administration’s already massive carbon footprint. Reuters continues: 

“With the world on track for its warmest year on record, leaders are trying to shore up a global response to climate change before Donald Trump retakes the U.S. presidency in January. He is reportedly preparing to roll back U.S. policy on global warming and exit the landmark Paris Agreement.”

The urgency to push through climate deals before President-elect Trump takes office is a clear indication that these officials know their policies are unsustainable and unpopular, and, even among a friendly audience, predictably fail. Daniel Turner, Power The Future Executive Director and Founder said:

“The era of taxpayer-funded climate junkets must end,” said Daniel Turner, Executive Director of Power The Future. “It’s time for the federal government to reflect the will of the American people and prioritize the interests of its workers over the demands of the climate elite.”

As American families struggle with high energy prices and inflation, Biden-Harris officials are more concerned with securing their next job and enjoying a taxpayer-funded adventure. This trip will bring about no material change but will certainly add to the administration’s already tarnished reputation.

The Biden-Harris administration’s decision to send officials, including the President, to the Amazon rainforest on the taxpayer dime is a slap in the face. As the administration comes to an end, it’s crucial that we hold these officials accountable for their wasteful spending. Power The Future is committed to documenting and sharing instances of this spending with Congress and the next administration.