Waste of the Day: Congressional Staffer Has 190-Mile Commute
Topline: There is likely no one who would buy a house 190 miles away from their workplace knowing they would have to commute back and forth.
But for Brent Robertson, chief of staff for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), the expense was not a problem because it was funded by taxpayers. Robertson was reimbursed $44,000 for 26 trips between Lynchburg, Va. and Washington, D.C. from April 2024 to March 2025, according to public records obtained by Politico.
Key facts: Robertson has worked for Marshall since 2012 and became chief of staff in 2017. He purchased a house in Lynchburg in March 2024 and immediately began using government funds to cover his hefty commute.
His tab included a $10,000 per diem for a single trip to Washington D.C. from Jan. 14 to Jan. 23, presumably for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. Per diems typically pay for meals and hotel stays, though it’s unclear exactly why this one was so expensive.
Until May of this year, Robertson also owned a condo in D.C. He doesn’t use the condo to live closer to his workplace, but he did save hundreds of dollars in property taxes by claiming it as his primary residence on his tax bills, according to public documents reviewed by Politico.
Robertson makes almost $220,000 in salary per year in addition to his travel expenses. The money is paid from Sen. Marshall’s $4 million taxpayer-funded account that covers salaries and other office expenses.
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Critical quote: Stanley Brand, who previously served as House general counsel, told Politico he had “never” heard of an arrangement like Robertson’s.
“What if everybody decided to do that, let their staff live far away from their location, and then just charge it off to the government?” Brand said.
Supporting quote: A spokesperson for Marshall told Politico, “After a gang shooting struck his wife’s vehicle outside their D.C. condo, Brent and his family made the decision last year to move to Virginia. Like dozens of other chiefs of staff who have duty stations outside of D.C., and in full accordance and approval of Senate ethics, rules, and guidelines, Brent is reimbursed for official travel to and from his home and duty station in Virginia.”
Summary: Marshall’s commute would be illogical to pay for using his personal savings, and it should still be illogical when government funds are involved.
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