Have you ever been more angry than when you can’t get a refund for something? We all have a story of a time when we didn’t get what was promised, and then got refused compensation for it.

Pete Buttigieg, a former rival in the Democratic primary in 2020 for President Joe Biden, got in return for his endorsement an appointment to Joe’s Cabinet.

He’s Transportation Secretary. And he’s been incredibly effective in his role.

He just announced a new federal rule: “From now on, when your flight is canceled for any reason, you are entitled to an automatic cash refund and it has to be prompt.”

Of course, because it was something good that came from a Democratic administration, Republicans are incensed about it.

What is it about this statement that could make you mad?

“If you get delayed significantly, that means three hours domestically, six hours internationally, or if there’s another significant change to your itinerary — like maybe you were going to go into one airport, they actually changed the airport on you or something like that — you’re going to get your money back.”

No matter to the Party of Trump.

“You are the poster child for why DEI hires are a bad idea,” said one commenter on X, as though Buttigieg was just hired because he’s openly gay, and that that’s a bad thing.

“Can Americans get their refunds from the illegal immigrants being brought into America using OUR tax dollars? Those were surely some hidden, unwanted, expensive airline fees,” said another.

The new rule also requires that airlines “come out” themselves in regard to “junk fees.” Upgrade costs, baggage costs, even the cost to change a flight — all are things that are covered under the new rule. That actually sounds GREAT.

But conservative trolls have had it out for Pete since the very beginning. They just hate the fact that he’s a proudly gay man in a Cabinet position. I would love to remind them that Ric Grenell was the first in history, serving as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence.

They didn’t seem so angry that a gay dude was in government then.

Watch, and wander into the comments at your own risk:

Our department just issued rules to protect people from hidden airline fees and to require airlines to give passengers automatic cash refunds when owed. No more having to fend for yourself and jump through hoops to get your money back—airlines will have to automatically do this. pic.twitter.com/Jv7dFmnNkI

— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 24, 2024