NRW Government Faces Criticism Over €1.5 Million in Travel Expenses

Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst's USA trip alone accounted for €327,000, sparking debate on spending priorities during budget constraints.

Since June 2022, the NRW government has spent approximately €1.46 million on international trips, with nearly half attributed to Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst.
Wüst's spring 2024 trip to the USA, costing €327,130, was the most expensive, including visits to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Opposition leaders criticized the expenditures, calling them extravagant, especially as social program budgets face cuts.
The NRW Finance Ministry defended the trips as essential for fostering economic, cultural, and scientific ties globally, a long-standing practice across party lines.
Other costly trips included €101,000 for a cultural delegation to the USA and €62,300 for a trade mission to Japan led by other ministers.