Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spent $175,000 on a February trip to the United Arab Emirates, the Michigan Enjoyer reported in March.

Wayne and Oakland counties also paid to send two people each on the 7,000+ mile trip from Feb. 11 to Feb. 19.

Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans spent $4,657 of taxpayer money counting the flight, two hotels, and travel insurance, according to documents obtained through a record request from Wayne County.

The delegation attended the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. About 21 people attended, the Enjoyer reported, including:

• Whitmer

• Major General Paul D. Rogers, Adjutant General of the Michigan National Guard and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

• JoAnne Huls, chief of staff

• Terry Krinvic, director of scheduling

• Renee Farhat, residence director and family liaison

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin L. Messer, Jr.

• Chief Innovation Officer Ben Marchionna

• ODAI Executive Director Col. John Gutierrez

• Mel Brown, executive ombudsman and senior external partnership advisor

• Maci Gilmore, assistant chief of protocol

• Oakland County Executive David Coulter

• Oakland County Chief Information Officer Rod Davenport

• Evans

• Wayne County Deputy County Executive Assad Turfe

• Associate Vice President for Research – Innovation Partnerships and Economic Impact at the University of Michigan Dr. Kelly Sexton

• Founder & Chairman of The Arab American News Osama Siblani

• Founder & Chairman of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trustees Ahmad Chebbani

• Miller Johnson Managing Member Fadwa Hammoud

• Harbor Light Advisors Partner Will Foss

• Henry Ford Health Vice President and Michigan Economic Development Foundation member Marc Corriveau

• Executive Director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Tejara Bilal Hammoud

The junket was a strategic investment to attract foreign investment, create local opportunities, and expand international partnerships, Doda Lulgjuraj, director of communications for Evans, told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email.

“We have the largest Arab population outside of the Middle East, and with our strong ties to the region and its leadership in key industries like advanced manufacturing and mobility, the visit reinforced Wayne County’s global role,” Lulgjuraj wrote. “Engaging in high-level discussions and collaborating with leaders positioned Wayne County for future economic growth, making the amount spent on travel a modest cost for potential long-term returns in jobs, investment, and global competitiveness.”

Deputy Wayne Co. Exec. Assad Turfe spent $4,567 on flights, hotel, and travel insurance, while Oakland County CIO Rod Davenport spent $3,966 on hotels and airfare, and Oakland Co. Exec. David Coulter spent $4,317 on flights and hotels.

The governor claimed the trip was an investment mission.

“Our investment mission to the UAE highlighted Michigan's leadership in advanced manufacturing, higher education, defense, and aerospace,” Whitmer said in a news release.

This mission marks the first time a Michigan governor has traveled to the region, according to the MEDC.

Companies in Dubai are more likely to base their decisions about doing business in Michigan on the 10% tariffs President Trump’s administration plans to levy on the United Arab Emirates than on a business trip, John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Accountability, told CapCon in an email.

Federal, state, and local politicians wrongly try to run the economy, Mozena said.

“The people of Michigan would be much better off if federal, state and local politicians all stopped trying to run the economy like it’s something they’re capable of doing, and instead let the rest of us get on with buying, selling and working in the way that leaves us the best off,” Mozena wrote. “The best way to do ‘economic development’ is to not have the government interfering in everything we do, or spending our money on boondoggle vacations for deputy county executives and the like.”

Every month, the state of Michigan pays $4 million to lease 5,783 vehicles.

Michigan owned 4,800 vehicles as of February 2025, according to documents obtained through a record request from the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.

The average monthly payment for leased vehicles is $692.

But the state’s lease payments on 45 vehicles exceed $2,000 per month.

For more than 1,000 vehicles, Michigan pays more than $1,000 monthly.

Each of the Big Three automakers is represented in the state’s fleet. Michigan employees drive 5,235 Chevrolets, 2,632 Fords and 1,355 Dodge vehicles. That leaves 448 Chryslers, 428 Jeeps, 41 GMCs, 11 BMW motorcycles, eight RAMs, and four Buicks.

Sedans, SUVs and minivans are among the vehicles the state uses, but there are also buses to transport prisoners, forklifts, tractors, gators, trailers, mowers, backhoes and snow blowers.

The highest-cost monthly lease is for a Caterpillar Sonic drill rig geoprobe, at $10,840 monthly or $130,080 yearly.

A public information officer from the Department of Natural Resources told Michigan Capitol Confidential that it’s possible his department is the one that leased the equipment.

“As far as I can tell right now, the department does not own this piece of equipment,” Ed Golder told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email. But he added, “It’s possible we have leased this piece of equipment in the past.”

The drill collects geological samples and can monitor well installation. Michigan has more than 1 million residential private wells, according to the state health department.

The state spends more than $166,000 annually on parts and equipment for the drill, according to a state contract.

The state owns or leases 30 electric vehicles, CapCon reported in February.