President Donald Trump said that Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price's use of private planes is "different" than how Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has used similar arrangements. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo Trump: 'We're looking into' Price's use of private planes

President Donald Trump on Sunday said his administration is looking into Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price's use of private planes during his tenure in the Cabinet.

"As far as Secretary Price is concerned, that’s different. We’re looking into it," Trump told reporters in Washington, according to a pool report. He was answering a question that also pertained to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.


Price was a budget hawk during his time in House, but a POLITICO investigation revealed a total cost of more than $400,000 in charter jet spending for his travel since May, a practice that neither of his Obama administration predecessors followed. (Both Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Kathleen Sebelius flew on commercial flights.)

On Saturday, Price, who has come under intense criticism and become the subject of an investigation by the HHS inspector general's office, said he would cease using private aircraft pending a formal review of the practice.

Even after questions were raised in a POLITICO report about Price's travels, the secretary continued to use private planes to the tune of more than $56,000 this past week.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified where the president's statement was made.