White House jumps to Pete Buttigieg's defense after he took paternity leave: Jen Psaki calls Transportation Secretary a role model for new parents while Republicans say administration is 'missing in action
The White House jumped to the defense of Pete Buttigieg after a report broke that the Transportation secretary has been on paid paternity leave since mid-August, as his department comes under intense scrutiny for supply chain issues.
Federal employees are offered up to 12 weeks' paid parental leave, though Cabinet secretaries are not included in that, meaning President Biden had to sign off on the leave.
Buttigieg announced on Sept. 4 that he and his husband Chasten had adopted twins. 'Proud to work in an Administration that is fighting to make paid leave a reality for everyone, and with people like @SecretaryPete who are role models on the importance of paid leave for new parents,' press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Politico on Thursday revealed Buttigieg, 39, went on paternity leave in August and September after he and husband Chasten adopted twins Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg.
A spokesman for the Department of Transportation said: 'For the first four weeks, he was mostly offline except for major agency decisions and matters that could not be delegated.
'He has been ramping up activities since then.' Source
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