WASHINGTON, D.C. - The chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee probed NASA Administrator Charles Bolden on Tuesday morning citing apparent massive overuse of premium first- and business-class air travel upgrades for agency employees, including trips first publicized by Scripps News nearly a month ago.

I dont travel first class, Bolden told the committee.

Among the trips cited by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., was a $14,773 flight NASA reported booking for Ames Research Center Director Simon Pete Worden to travel first class from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco in 2011.

When Scripps News first raised questions about the trip, NASA officials said its records were incorrect and the trip never happened. Worden told Scripps News it did.

Wolf also asked why Bolden charged taxpayers $1,641 for a one-way first-class flight from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles in June 2010. NASA records say the average coach fare for the flight is less than $200.

Bolden said he often uses frequent flier miles to upgrade at no cost. He was unable to explain why the costlier fares were reported in NASA records, and said he would get answers.

I cant help how its accounted for, said Bolden, who was testifying about NASAs 2015 budget request before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. We are looking into it. The IG (inspector general) is looking into it.

Wolf, who chairs the subcommittee, cited serious problems with some of the space agencys fiscal decisions, including travel spending reported in annual disclosures to the General Services Administration. He urged more stringent belt-tightening and oversight.

If NASA is going to continue to receive the support of Congress, it absolutely must do a better job, Wolf said. The criticism came as Bolden answered questions about the agencys $17.46 billion budget request.

NASA approved one-way premium upgrades that it reported cost from $3,000 to more than $10,000 apiece on 515 occasions over four years, Scripps reported after reviewing agency records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

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NASA chief faces questions about travel