A debate over the length and pay of paternity leave took center stage after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared he took time off once his twins were born. Buttigieg and his husband Chastin welcomed two new babies amid a major supply chain backup at U.S. ports.
On Sept. 4, Buttigieg shared his family’s news via Twitter.
Chasten and I are beyond thankful for all the kind wishes since first sharing the news that we’re becoming parents. We are delighted to welcome Penelope Rose and Joseph August Buttigieg to our family. pic.twitter.com/kS89gb11Ax
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) September 4, 2021
Twitter user @MattWalshBlog responded.
If private companies want to give two months of paternity leave, that's great. But taxpayers should not be forced to pay the salaries of cabinet secretaries who aren't working.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 15, 2021
“Pete Buttigieg couldn’t organize a one-car funeral,” Sen. Tim Cotton (R-AR) said on Fox News. “He’s not going to organize our nation’s ports and railroads, highways, and airports.”
Others praised Buttigieg for taking time off.
I took paternity leave when we adopted our daughter.
I'm a better father for having that bonding time.
I'm glad Pete Buttigieg is taking paternity leave.
We need to normalize paternity leave.
It makes better fathers, better families, and a better country.
— Brady Quirk-Garvan (@bradyqg) October 15, 2021
The conversation even came up during a segment of ABC’s morning talk show ‘The View’.
“What’s important in this infrastructure bill is that family leave is also included in it,” co-host Sunny Hostin said. “So he is the person to make the example that is something very necessary.”