Indonesia's Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo Faces Scrutiny Over US Family Trip and Staff Changes

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo attracted public criticism after his wife and daughter were listed among the delegation for a July visit to the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs included the family members to streamline visa processing, and officials insisted that no state budget (APBN) funds were used, stating the travel was financed privately.

Policy expert Zikri Alhadi noted, “Memang belum diatur secara tegas, wilayah abu-abu…,” highlighting the lack of clear regulations on whether officials may bring relatives on official trips. He called for explicit rules to prevent ambiguity.

At the same time, Dody faced allegations of reshuffling ministry staff and appointing his niece, Aisyah Zakkiyah, to two strategic positions—a board seat at PT PP (Persero) Tbk and a ministerial expert role. Critics argued the moves reflected misuse of authority, while supporters pointed to his broader reform agenda within the ministry.