USDA :aii United States Department of Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Chief Information Officer 1400 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20250 October 16, 2018 Delivered via Electronic Mail Austin Evers American Oversight 1030 15th Street NW, Suite B255 Washington, DC 20005 E-Mail: foia@americanoversight.org Re: Final Response for FOIA Request No. 2017-OSEC-07010-F Dear Mr. Evers: This is the Departmental final response to your above-referenced September 26, 2017 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Departmental FOIA Office (DFO). Your request sought, from April 25, 2017 through the date of the search: Records sufficient to identify each time the Secretary has booked or used any air travel other than scheduled, commercial service for official government business, including use of government-owned or government-leased aircraft, chartered aircraft, or aircraft owned by a business entity or private individual. For purposes of this request, travel is “for official government business” if the travel involves attendance or participation at any meeting or event within the purview of the Secretary’s official duties, even if some or most of the trip involves personal activities. Your request was processed under the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552. A search for responsive records was conducted in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Fiscal Policy Division (FPD). The OCFO-FPD is the component responsible for, among other things, providing policy guidance and oversight of the agency’s travel system. The OCFO-FPD search produced a one (1) page chart containing the Secretary’s non-commercial travel between May 7, 2017 and November 02, 2017. The chart is being released in full, with no FOIA exemptions applied. You may appeal this response by email at USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov, or by mail to the Assistant Secretary for Administration at 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Whitten Building, Room 209-A, Washington, D.C. 20250-0103. Your appeal must be in writing, and it must be received no later than 90 calendar days form the date of this letter. The DFO will not consider appeals received after the 90 calendar day limit. Appeals received after 5:00 p.m. EST will be considered VERSIGHT www.dm.usda.gov/foia Austin Evers FOIA Case No. 2017-OSEC-07010-F received the next business day. The appeal letter should include the FOIA tracking number listed above, a copy of the original request, the DFO’s response to your original request, and a statement explaining the basis of your appeal. For quickest possible handling, the subject line of your email, the appeal letter, and its envelope, if applicable, should be marked “Freedom of Information Act Appeal.” If you have any questions regarding the processing of this request, please contact Ms. Kathleen Drohan at (202) 694-1802, Kathleen.Drohan@ocio.usda.gov, or USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov. For additional information regarding USDA FOIA regulations and processes, please refer to the information available online at www.dm.usda.gov/foia. You may seek dispute resolution services from the DFO’s FOIA Public Liaison, Ms. Ravoyne Payton at USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov. Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, Room 2510, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001; email at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll-free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769. Provisions of the FOIA allow us to recover part of the cost of processing your request. In this instance, because the cost is below the $25 minimum, there is no charge. 7 C.F.R. Part 1.18. If you have any questions regarding the processing of this request, please contact USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov. For additional information regarding USDA FOIA regulations and processes, please refer to the information available online at https://www.dm.usda.gov/foia/. The DFO Team appreciates the opportunity to assist you in this matter. Sincerely, Alexis R. Graves Departmental FOIA Officer Office of the Chief Information Officer Enclosure: Responsive Record (1 page) www.dm.usda.gov/foia VERSIGHT Final Response 2017-OSEC-07010-F Secretary Perdue Non Commercial Travel Travelers Travelers Last Name First Name M Traveler Type Travelers Org Travelers Title Approving Official Last Name Approving Official First Name Approving Official Middle Initial Approving Official Title Approval Date Destination(s) Trip Start Date Trip End Date Official Personal Political Reimbursable Cost Applicable GSA CityPair Cost Government Cost Justification Aircraft Agency Aircraft Registration No Additional Information Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Washington, DC to Orlando, FL 11/02/2017 11/02/2017 Yes No No No $169.00 $ - Required Use White House Aircraft Airforce 2 The Secretary joined Vice President Mike Pence and Governor Rick Scott for events near Orlando where he toured the Correct Craft Warehouse, participated in Tax Reform Roundtable, and delivered remarks at Correct Craft Warehouse. Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Camp David 09/08/2017 09/09/2017 Yes No No No NonAwarded $ - Required Use White House Helicopter At the invitation of the President and First Lady, the Secretary attended a Cabinet Members retreat at Camp David. The trip included a briefing by the Camp Commander and a meeting with members of the Cabinet. Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Columbus, OH to Washington, DC (one-way) 07/22/2017 07/22/2017 Yes No No No $ 371.00 $ - Space Available White House Aircraft Airforce 2 The Secretary spoke at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference. The Secretary was invited by the Vice President to return with him from Columbus as they were both returning from their respective events in the region around the same time. Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Washington, DC to Cedar Rapids, IA (round trip) 06/21/2017 06/21/2017 Yes No No No $ 289.00 $ 17,500.00 Required Use White House Aircraft Airforce 1 The Secretary joined President Trump and Secretary Ross for a tour of Kirkwood Community College as part of White House Technology Week. The tour focused on the agriculture program at the college as well as rural broadband and 5G connectivity. Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Washington, DC 06/16/2017 to Miami, FL (oneway) 06/16/2017 Yes No No No $ 421.00 $ 20,000.00 Required Use White House Aircraft Airforce 1 The Secretary joined President Trump, Governor Rick Scott, Secretary Ross, Secretary Acosta, Senator Rubio, and Representative Diaz-Balart for an event, including a speech and executive order signing, at the Manuel Artime Theater. Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Washington, DC 06/07/2017 to Cincinnati, OH (round trip) 06/07/2017 Yes No No No $ 350.00 $ 30,000.00 Required Use White House Aircraft Airforce 1 The Secretary joined President Trump for an event to outline nation infrastructure plans as part of White House Infrastructure Week. This included a speech on the Ohio River highlighting barge traffic and inland waterway infrastructure. Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Coeur d'Alene, ID 06/01/2017 06/01/2017 Yes No No No None Awarded $ 168.80 Cost USDA US Forest Service Perdue Sonny Federal Official USDA Secretary of Agriculture Washington, DC 05/07/2017 to Little Rock, AR (round trip) 05/07/2017 Yes No No No $ 278.00 $ pVERSIGHT Vaden Stephen A OGC 05/31/2017 - Mission Required DOD US Air Force N50HV The Secretary participated in an interview on Live on KRTV Montana This Morning; delivered the Keynote Address at the Montana Ag Summit; participated in a working lunch; participated in a Fireside Chat with Sen. Roberts and Sen. Daines moderated by Taylor Brown, president of the Northern Ag Network; and participated in media interviews. In Idaho, the Secretary visited Coeur d’Alene National Forest and met with USFS Employees; toured Chico Mills; met with Governor Otter including a briefing on Idaho Forest issues; participated in a working dinner on Lake Coeur d’Alene; participated in a breakfast meeting with Governor Otter, Secretary Zinke, Federal and State elected officials, and Idaho agriculture and forestry Leaders; delivered a speech on forestry alongside Secretary Zinke; toured and received a briefing at the National Interagency Fire Center; signed an interagency agreement with Secretary Zinke; and toured the Smoke Jumper Loft. (Note: Government [USFS] aircraft was only utilized from Great Falls to Coeur d’Alene.) At the request of the White House, the Secretary met for a disaster briefing with the Arkansas National Guard with Gov. Hutchison, Sen. Boozman, Rep. Crawford and Rep. Hill. He then participated in an aerial survey to view the scope of the flood damage. USDA-17-0419-A-000001 Page 1 of 1