the total cost of price's travel over $1 million. >> we have heard the concern and the criticism and we look forward to the inspector germ's report. >> price pledging thursday to pay back a fraction of this total writing a check for $51,887.31. the cost of his seats on the chartered planes but not the military flights. >> to pay for my portion of those trips. this is unprecedented. >> reporter: the white house releasing a statement thursday defending price's travel on military aircraft, insisting that it is sometimes an appropriate and necessary use of resources. as for the 26 chartered flights price has taken since may, the administration taking a tougher tone. >> the white house does not have a role on a front end of approving chart or flights at agencies. that's something that we are certainly looking into from this point forward. >> reporter: sources tell cnn that price's partial repayment for his flights is not helping