Trump transportation chief Sean Duffy divulges the safety spat that caused a rift with Elon Musk
Duffy, who appeared on New York Post's 'Pod Force One' podcast on Wednesday, said he had issues with the ex-DOGE chief before his departure from the government in May.
'I think it might not have been intentional, might have been ham-handed by some of the requests that were made by DOGE, but my position was, we are not going to fire air traffic controllers,' Duffy said to the Post.
Duffy spoke to host Miranda Divine, mentioning an earlier squabble between him and the SpaceX CEO.
He says they clashed when Musk proposed firing air traffic controllers — positions he considers essential to aviation safety.
Air traffic controllers were ultimately not fired as part of DOGE's mission to cut back on government spending and waste.
The secretary made a point of saying that the conversation with Musk took place before the January plane crash at Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., that killed over 60 people - pieces of the plane crumbling into the Potomac River.
'This was before DCA. Safety-critical positions are not going to be fired within the Department of Transportation.'
The transportation secretary says he got along very well with Musk after the argument, but reiterated that 'no one else is the secretary' and 'the Senate confirmed me.'
'Elon is an amazing innovator. He's creative. And again, there's a lot to learn from him, but I run this department, and again, I didn't want someone on the outside trying to tell me to fire people.'
Duffy notably posted on X a few months ago, saying, 'The fake news peddled lies that air traffic controllers were fired. The truth is not one controller was cut and more were hired under my watch.'
Since the start of the administration, Duffy has pinned the blame on Biden, also saying on X, 'Biden and Buttigieg ignored the warning signs at Newark. They neglected the air traffic control system. They failed to fix the problems. It's shameful. President Trump and I do not run away from challenges. We are fixing it.'
A recent congressional study found that the FAA has air traffic controllers working overtime to try and fill the demand of towers being staffed, raising serious concerns about worker fatigue in a high-stakes role where even a split-second mistake could mean life or death.
During a three-day investigative hearing by the National Transportation Safety Board, FAA officials revealed that the air traffic controller on duty the night of the crash was handling both airplane and helicopter traffic at the same time – which goes against official policy.
They claimed this practice was common at that control tower due to ongoing staffing shortages, a problem affecting many towers across the US.
Recent FAA figures highlight a stark shortage in air traffic controllers - nearly 3,000 vacancies remain.
The grueling training is prompting many recruits to drop out before earning certification, leaving control towers thinly staffed and contributing to travel congestion across the country this summer.
With pressure mounting on the agency, the question now is how swiftly and effectively the FAA can enact solutions.
The FAA responded to the Daily Mail's questions on the employee shortages and safety concerns, saying: 'Safety is the FAA's number one priority. When there are staffing constraints, the FAA will adjust an air traffic control tower or facility's staffing to cover high-volume air traffic periods.'
Adding, 'We may also implement traffic management initiatives, such as slowing air traffic into the airport.'
Duffy has faced turbulence in America's skies as the FAA struggles to fill air traffic control spots.
The FAA is now trying to bridge the gaps by hiring college graduates, announcing a new initiative this week. The administration signed an agreement with Nashua community college to become the next school for Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training.
Reportedly, this is the fifth program announced this year as part of Secretary Duffy's mission to attract and retain next generation air traffic controllers.
With delays mounting and safety concerns rising, the clock is ticking on whether these new recruits can arrive in time.
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