White House

In response to several congressional inquiries concerning the use by a White House official of a military helicopter to visit Camp David and a golf course on May 24, 1994, GAO sought information on helicopter flights by White House staff in instances where the President, the Vice President, the First Lady or the wife of the Vice President was not traveling. Since 1976, the Marine Corps' HMX-1 Squadron in Quantico, Virginia, has been responsible for providing helicopter support to the White House. According to HMX- 1 manual records, approximately 1,200 flights were flown to support the President, Vice President, First Lady, and heads of state during the 16 months prior to May 24, 1994. These records indicated that, as previously disclosed by the White House, staff members flew 14 times without the President, Vice President, First Lady or heads of state during the period in question.

GAO found that: (1) as previously disclosed by the White House, staff members flew 14 times without accompanying the President, Vice President, the First Lady, or Heads of State; (2) following performance of several tests to independently verify the completeness and accuracy of the records of the Marine Corps' HMX-1 squadron, no additional White House staff flights were identified and there was a high degree of conformance between the automated database maintained by the Navy and Marine Corps, used to track and manage all naval aircraft, and the manual records maintained at HMX-1; (3) prior to May 31, 1994, all HMX-1 helicopter travel by White House staff required the approval of officials of the White House Military Office; (4) there were no written procedures detailing how staff flights are requested or the criteria used to approve flights; (5) based on information provided, the infrequency of helicopter use by White House staff made written policies and procedures unnecessary, and each request had to be reviewed on an individual basis; (6) the former Deputy Director of the White House Military Office stated that he approved the use of an HMX-1 helicopter for the May 24, 1994, trip and for the majority of the other 13 trips previously disclosed; (7) according to the former Deputy Director of the White House Military Office, the request for helicopter service was made orally well in advance of the May 24 trip, approval was given orally, and most requests and their approvals were oral; and (8) as of May 31, 1994, the approval authority for staff use of military aircraft was raised to the White House Chief of Staff or the Deputy Chief of Staff, and requests involving the Chief of Staff must be approved by the White House Counsel or Deputy White House Counsel.