Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has reportedly used a military jet that costs $9,000 per hour to travel to Iowa for events with Republican candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, according to The Washington Post. The trip, which took place on August 17, involved a Gulfstream jet operated by the Air Force. This was one of several trips RFK Jr. has taken on military aircraft since joining President Donald Trump’s cabinet in February 2025. The Post reported that both the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services approved the use of military aircraft for these trips, with protocols in place to govern such travel. Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn said RFK Jr. was coming to Iowa to support their campaign, according to WGAN. RFK Jr., known for his opposition to vaccines and his advocacy for the “Make America Healthy Again” policy platform, is believed by White House officials to be able to attract voters who align with his views but typically do not support Republicans. While the White House and HHS declined to comment on RFK Jr.’s use of military aircraft, the Iowa state GOP posted a photo on social media on August 19 showing RFK Jr. and Lahn holding fishing rods near a lake. RFK Jr. also joined Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa at a youth fitness event in Newtown, promoting the return of the presidential fitness test. RFK Jr.’s trip to Iowa included stops at a community health center and an announcement about initiatives to help parents struggling with addiction. According to the Post, he has been accompanied by bodyguards and longtime aide Stephanie Spear on these military flights. A commercial flight between Washington, D.C., and Des Moines, Iowa, typically costs about $250 using a government cost-saving program, compared to the $9,000 hourly rate for the military jet. The Post also noted that a direct commercial flight usually takes about three hours. RFK Jr.’s use of military aircraft has not gone unchallenged. HHS official Chris Klomp, who has been nominated by Trump to be deputy secretary, reportedly questioned the practice, and RFK Jr. agreed not to use government planes. This comes after Trump’s first term, when he removed Health Secretary Tom Price for reportedly using at least $400,000 in taxpayer funds on chartered jets during the administration’s first nine months. Trump expressed his disapproval at the time, saying, “I certainly don't like the optics,” shortly before Price resigned. However, during his second term, Trump has not publicly criticized Democratic complaints about FBI Director Kash Patel’s use of government jets for personal travel, including a trip to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where Patel was seen celebrating with the U.S. men’s hockey team.