FBI Director Kash Patel flies out of Joint Base Andrews instead of Reagan National Airport to save taxpayer money.
Posted by VINCE, Checked
- Sources
- 5 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 80%
VINCESep 16, 2026
Multiple sources report that Patel flies from Joint Base Andrews rather than Reagan National, and that he and the FBI cite landing fees and taxpayer savings as the reason. No source contradicts the claim, though the savings motive is Patel's and the FBI's stated rationale rather than an independently audited finding.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… That's the way it works. And Cash released a bunch of data publicly this past week showing that he uses it with way less frequency than his predecessors, Chris Ray and James Comey. He also doesn't fly out of the most expensive airports. He doesn't fly out of Reagan National, which is the airport closest to Washington, D.C. He doesn't use that because he wants to save the taxpayers money, so instead he flies out of Andrews Air Force Base now, or Joint Base Andrews these days. Cash has already released all this information publicly, but crazy Mazy Hirono might be either too illiterate or doesn't have access to the internet, so it led to this embarrassing moment for the hapless Hawaii senator. Watch this. …
VINCE · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Reuters reports that Patel flew from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on a government jet, consistent with his routine use of Andrews as his departure point.[1]
Supports. The Hill quotes Patel saying his predecessors used Reagan National as a personal hub at a cost of $4 million, and that he shut that policy off and mandated government airfields such as Andrews.[2]
Supports. CNN quotes Patel saying the FBI takes off and lands at Andrews every time because it is cheaper and saves taxpayer dollars, and reports that he avoids landing fees by using Andrews.[3]
Supports. The Washington Sun reports an FBI public affairs statement that Patel uses Joint Base Andrews while previous directors flew from Reagan National, which charged a $4,526 landing fee.[4]
Supports. Purdue Exponent (Sept. 15, 2026) reports Patel estimating that the move to Andrews saved taxpayers $3.5 million, the same month as the post.[5]
Context. The savings figures ($4 million, $3.5 million) are Patel's own estimates, and critics argue that operating the FBI jet costs more than a commercial ticket reimbursement. The sources do not independently audit the savings.[2][3][5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 tier 1, 1 tier 2, 2 not rated
- 1EXCLUSIVE: Kash Patel on the FBI's defining test: securing the World Cupreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Kash Patel defends FBI leadership, jet use: 'I'm entitled to ...thehill.com · tier 1 · cited for: supports, context
- 3Kash Patel's use of the FBI jet sparks outrage. Here's why ...cnn.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports, context
- 4Chuck Grassley Joins Democrats in Demanding Info on Kash Patel’s Spendingwashingtonsun.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Patel touts fraud enforcement wins as FBI directorpurdueexponent.org · not rated · cited for: supports, context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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