iWatch News report: Federal limo fleet increased 73% under Obama administration

By: Emily Rand
Topics: News

President Barack Obama steps out of the presidential limousine as he prepares to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Thursday, April 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

/ AP

The number of limousines owned by the U.S. government increased by 73 percent during the first two years of the Obama administration, according to a new report by iWatch news.

An analysis of General Services Administration data reveals the federal fleet has increased from 238 limos in 2008---the last year of the Bush Administration--- to 412 limos in 2010. Much of the increase was recorded in the State Department under Hillary Clinton.

For its part, the Obama administration said the increased number of limousines in the federal fleet reflects "an enhanced effort to protect diplomats and other government officials in a dangerous world."

Just last week, President Obama issued a directive stating that by 2015 all vehicles purchased by the government must be "alternative fuel vehicles" such as hybrids and electric cars.

12 Comments +

Add a Comment See all 12 Comments


by BeeRawn June 8, 2011 6:49 PM EDT: four years from today is 2015! go green now!!!!; Reply to this comment


by BeeRawn June 8, 2011 6:48 PM EDT: by 2015?!?!?!?! if you acknowledge that there is an issue why put it off 4 flipping years from now instead of putting into effect NOW!!!!; Reply to this comment

by atxcindy June 2, 2011 1:16 PM EDT

so the GOP is charge of the pursestrings--why did they approve these purchases? And like another poster commented--most were purchased during the end of the bush years

Reply to this comment


by lisamarie413 June 2, 2011 6:51 PM EDT: Re-read the article. The Dems were in charge after the 06 elections when these purchases were made. GOP didn't have the purse strings till Jan. of this year. It states they were made under Clinton's State Dept.


by Lingbergcheese June 2, 2011 10:24 AM EDT: He would not need a Limo if he was not such a crook and step on other countries rights to exist. Quit showboating with our Tax Dollars and giving it to other Countries that hate us. Try helping our own country and quit trying to run theirs. Quit trying to be their friends so you can steal from them. Let them try to be our friend. They need us more than we need them. Stay home Mr. President.Let them come to us.Run the Country right and you won't need all that protection.; Reply to this comment

by cnfrisch-2009 May 31, 2011 7:03 PM EDT

Unfortunately, the story was poorly researched and written. It failed to mention that "Most of the new limos were obtained in fiscal 2009, which covered the very end of George W. Bush's term and the first eight months of Obama's -- so the Bush administration could have initiated some of the purchases."

Reply to this comment


by lisamarie413 June 2, 2011 6:59 PM EDT: And who was in charge of congress in 09? And the State Dept.? And the Whitehouse? And the Senate? But it's only expected that Bush be blamed for this. That's how the left deflects attention away from their nefarious deeds. If anything negative happens, it's his fault. Only when something positive happens (which isn't often in this administration) does Obama get credit. But hey! At least the extra limos provided for a few jobs.


by __One__American__ May 31, 2011 5:28 PM EDT: But I though Democrats said the world would love us if they were in power?

LOL!; Reply to this comment

by Harden_Tar May 31, 2011 4:57 PM EDT

Kind of puts the exclamation point to the term "limousine liberal" don't it?

Reply to this comment


by cnfrisch-2009 May 31, 2011 7:07 PM EDT: Most of the new limos were obtained in fiscal 2009, which covered the very end of George W. Bush's term and the first eight months of Obama's -- so the Bush administration initiated most of the purchases.


by Lifeson2112 May 31, 2011 4:44 PM EDT: Why does this not surprise me? The morons in this administration think they're in the world's most exclusive country club and we're paying for it.; Reply to this comment