Travis AFB spent $1,280 per coffee cup; senator denounces waste

This reheating metal coffee tumbler used by the 60th Aerial Squadron at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, Calif., reportedly cost U.S. taxpayers $1,280. The squadron purchased 25 cups this year, for a total of $32,000. less This reheating metal coffee tumbler used by the 60th Aerial Squadron at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, Calif., reportedly cost U.S. taxpayers $1,280. The squadron purchased 25 cups this year, for a total ... more Photo: USAF Tech Sgt. James Hodgman Photo: USAF Tech Sgt. James Hodgman Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Travis AFB spent $1,280 per coffee cup; senator denounces waste 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

An Iowa senator is doing a slow burn over the high cost of keeping coffee piping hot at Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, Calif.

Fox News reported Monday that Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley questioned the procurement of dozens of beverage tumblers for the base's 60th Aerial Squadron at a cost of nearly $56,000 over three years. The cups, used aboard cargo aircraft, have the ability to reheat liquids.

Grassley wrote Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson on Oct. 2 demanding an explanation of the purchase, which included 25 cups for $32,000, or $1,280 each, in 2018 alone.

A design flaw in the container causes the handle to break easily if the cup is dropped, according to the squadron. Replacement handles are not available, so a whole new cup had to be purchased.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told Grassley in a letter that, overall, the Air Force has spent $326,785 on 391 cups since 2016. Wilson said the Air Force has recently devised an inexpensive 3D replacement handle fix.

Wilson told Grassley the water heaters are in used in KC-10, C-5 and C-17 aircraft.

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Wilson acknowledged the wastefulness in her letter, which Grassley released Friday.

"It is simply irresponsible to spend thousands of dollars on manufactured parts when we have the technology available to produce them ourselves," she wrote.

But Grassley faulted the initial cost of the cup as excessive.

"While I appreciate that the Air Force is working to find innovations that would help save taxpayer dollars, it remains unclear why it cannot find a cheaper alternative to a $1,280 cup," he said. "Government officials have the responsibility to use taxpayer dollars efficiently. Too often, that's not the case. I intend to pursue this issue further."

Fox News said it attempted to reach the manufacturer of the hot cups, G&H Aerospace, an Arizona defense contractor. An email seeking comment was not immediately returned and a man who answered the phone at the firm's office Monday afternoon said "we have no comment" and hung up, Fox reported.