Who Pays for the Expenses of the US President?

With great power comes great expense. Just ask the American president. According to a congressional report, the cost of operating Air Force One (the president’s private plane) is $200,000 per hour, and that’s just basic air transportation. Given the extraordinary expenses of the presidency, it’s reasonable to wonder who pays the bill.

As a rule of thumb, taxpayers are directly responsible for any presidential expense occurred in the course of official government business. A trip aboard Air Force One to meet with the English prime minister, for instance, would be government funded, as would a state dinner. Additionally, the salaries of personnel responsible for supporting and protecting the president, or for maintaining the operations of White House, are considered official expenses.

Presidents frequently take vacations, and use official means of transportation to do so. On vacation, presidents generally pay for their own lodging, food and incidental items. However, the government pays for transportation, security, as well the expenses of support staff. Each president receives a $100,000 nontaxable annual travel account annually.

Every president since 1949 has received a $50,000-per-year expense account that can be used for expenses ranging from clothing to personal grooming to personal meetings that may fall outside of strictly official business. In addition, each president receives $19,000 annually for entertainment expenses.

Though the president and his family aren’t charged rent while living in the White House, they are not without expenses. Personal groceries, food prepared by White House cooks, toiletries and services like dry cleaning are billed to the president.

Once the president leaves office, he receives approximately $200,000 pension annually, along with paid health care, an office and payment for official travel, all funded by the taxpayer.