John Kerry, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate under the Biden administration, is reportedly costing American taxpayers a staggering $4.3 million annually
This revelation comes as the Boston Herald uncovers that a significant number of his aides are earning six-figure salaries. Kerry, who previously served as the secretary of state, has been in his current role since 2021.
The State Department, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the Boston Herald, disclosed that Kerry's office employs 27 individuals. Astonishingly, all but one of these employees earn in excess of $100,000 per annum. The records, however, do not disclose the identities of the employees.
While the roles of policy analysts and senior policy advisors are specified, the titles of several high-earning employees remain undisclosed. When questioned by the Herald about the lack of transparency, the State Department cited the "foreseeable harm standard" as the reason for the redactions.
James Rosenbaum, the branch chief of Statutory Compliance for the State Department, defended the decision, stating that publicizing the names "would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of an individual's personal privacy." Despite this, the Herald remains committed to uncovering the concealed information and has approached the State Department for further clarification.
Kerry, during his tenure as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, has been a vocal advocate for green energy and a radical overhaul of the food industry to achieve "net zero" emissions by 2030. His extensive global travel, often via private jets, to promote these causes has drawn criticism. In response to the backlash over his choice of transportation, Kerry defended his actions in 2021, stating that private jets are "the only choice for somebody like me who is traveling the world to win this battle."
The House Oversight Committee has recently initiated an investigation into Kerry and the State Department. This follows allegations that they "sought and received feedback from leftist environmental groups on the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) and enabled those groups to influence U.S. foreign policy."
Login