During the worst supply chain disruption in a generation, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation has been MIA. That’s largely because the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, has been on a paid leave vacation.
It seems the record-shattering number of cargo ships anchored off the Port of Long Beach and futile efforts to unclog America’s supply chains didn’t warrant him clocking back into work. According to wide-reaching reports, Buttigieg “has actually been on paid leave since mid-August to spend time with his husband, Chasten, and their two newborn babies.”
Proponents of federally funded paid family leave were initially thrilled the transportation secretary was taking advantage of the opportunity. The conventional Washington, D.C., wisdom was that Buttigieg’s absenteeism furthered the White House’s agenda as lawmakers wrangle over a $3.5 trillion spending package that includes increased paid family leave. However, working families concerned about inflation, shortages at the supermarket, and an inability to purchase children’s toys in time for the holidays may be less enthusiastic.
“We’re in the middle of a transportation crisis, and Pete Buttigieg is sitting at home. Meanwhile, cargo boats are unable to dock and shelves are sitting empty,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn reportedly said. “Pete needs to either get back to work or leave the Department of Transportation. It’s time to put American families first.”
While Buttigieg was reportedly “offline,” the Port of Long Beach sustained the largest logjam of cargo ships in its history. More than 60 were anchored off the coast, waiting weeks to dock and offload. Port officials have been scrambling to find ways to attract independent truckers and freight carriers to fast-track imports. Nothing has untangled the knotted logistics as inflation continues to rise and shelves run low. On the East Coast, transporting goods and materials has also been something of a Herculean struggle.
“Typically, where shoppers can find snacks, canned goods, and pet food, the shelves were bare and nearly empty,” Jacksonville news station WJXT reported. “In Target, fruit snacks were limited, protein bars were nearly gone too, and Lunchables were low in stock,” the outlet said. “We saw the least amount of available frozen foods at Publix and snack foods like beef jerky were running low.”
Despite criticism coming from political leaders in the nation’s Capital, Buttigieg has yet to take any significant action regarding the transportation crisis. The New York Post recently reported that supply chain bottlenecks and other issues will likely result in households earning $70,000, “to spend another $175 a month on food, fuel, and housing.”
The former mayor was appointed to run the DOT with no prior experience in trucking, logistics, or supply chains. South Bend has a population of approximately 103,000 people and its major transportation hub involves a 60-bus terminal.
Source: foxbusiness.com, thehill.com
Wow if the stories not one-sided I don’t know what it is. You people make me sick