Current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accused his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, of mismanaging the Department of Transportation (DOT), particularly failing to address critical air traffic control issues. Buttigieg pushed back, questioning the recent FAA personnel cuts under Duffy.
Key Facts:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized Pete Buttigieg for failing to modernize the FAA and address air traffic controller shortages.
- Duffy claimed that Buttigieg used the DOT as a “slush fund” for environmental programs and allowed over 90% of the workforce to work from home.
- Less than 400 probationary FAA employees were dismissed, none of whom were air traffic controllers or safety-critical personnel.
- Buttigieg responded by questioning Duffy’s transparency and accuracy regarding the FAA layoffs.
- SpaceX engineers are set to visit the Air Traffic Control System Command Center to assist in modernizing operations.
The Rest of The Story:
The dispute began when Buttigieg publicly demanded answers about recent FAA staffing cuts, implying they could impact air travel safety.
Duffy quickly responded, slamming Buttigieg’s record at the DOT.
He accused Buttigieg of neglecting the air traffic control system and focusing instead on left-wing environmental initiatives.
Duffy defended the FAA cuts, clarifying that only a small fraction of personnel were let go and that none were air traffic controllers.
He also revealed plans to collaborate with SpaceX to modernize air traffic control.
Buttigieg fired back, calling some of Duffy’s claims “demonstrably false” and demanding more details about the firings.
🚨 TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY TO FORMER SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG: "Mayor Pete chose to use this amazing department—that is so critical to America’s success—as a slush fund for the green new scam and environmental justice nonsense."
It's a m*rder.
"Not to mention that… pic.twitter.com/9CT6XgaBZK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 18, 2025
Commentary:
Duffy is absolutely right—Buttigieg was a disaster as Transportation Secretary.
Rather than tackling America’s aging transportation infrastructure, Buttigieg spent his tenure championing diversity quotas and climate policies that did nothing to improve safety or efficiency.
His failure to act on the air traffic controller shortage left the FAA struggling with outdated systems and staff shortages that still plague the industry today.
Just ask the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, who are still dealing with the fallout from last year’s toxic train derailment.
Buttigieg was nowhere to be found when disaster struck.
It took him nearly three weeks to visit the site, and even then, he appeared more concerned with damage control than taking real responsibility.
His record speaks for itself.
Duffy’s leadership is already proving to be a much-needed course correction.
Instead of wasting taxpayer money on radical green policies, he’s bringing in top-tier engineers to fix real problems.
SpaceX’s involvement in air traffic modernization is a perfect example of how government and private industry can work together to improve efficiency and safety.
Buttigieg’s attempt to spin the FAA layoffs as a crisis is nothing more than political theater.
Duffy’s response shows he is focused on results, not empty rhetoric.
If this is the new direction for the DOT, American travelers will be far better off.
The Bottom Line:
Duffy’s criticism of Buttigieg is well-founded.
For four years, Buttigieg neglected critical infrastructure, prioritizing woke policies over transportation safety.
Duffy, in contrast, is taking swift action to modernize air traffic control and refocus the DOT on its core mission.
If his early moves are any indication, the days of bureaucratic waste at the DOT may finally be coming to an end.
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