Congress Likes to Hitch Rides With Military to Meetings

Military vehicles routinely haul members of Congress not only to countries around the world but to meetings around Washington. Congressional delegations sometimes ask the Pentagon for expensive military transportation to the White House or ceremonial events in DC, documents obtained by Roll Call show. The military has even provided shuttle buses for groups of legislators and their staffs attending official events.

“For security, logistics, and cost this was the arrangement made. This is not unusual," said a staff member of one House Republican who requested military transport for a 2007 meeting with then-President Bush. A Democratic aide said members of Congress turn to the military on the relatively rare occasions when the US Capitol Police don't have the capacity to transport them.