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Politico
a day ago
- Automotive
- Politico
How has the NTSB fared with DOGE?
Presented by With help from Chinanu Okoli, Jessie Blaeser and Oriana Pawlyk QUICK FIX — DOGE has taken a chainsaw to some federal agencies. But so far, the National Transportation Safety Board has emerged relatively unscathed. — Goodbye, Elon Musk. Maybe? — DOT Secretary Sean Duffy is in hot water with the White House as he wades into a looming Senate primary in Michigan. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'Well, I started the engine and I gave it some gas/ And Cathy was closing her purse/ Well, we hadn't gone far in my beat-up old car/ And I was prepared for the worst/ 'Will you still see me tomorrow?'/ 'No, I got too much to do'/ Well, a question ain't really a question/ If you know the answer, too.' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the day NO MASSIVE UPHEAVAL: Even though Elon Musk is (officially) done with his government role, DOGE's cost-cutting mission continues — and so far, the independent National Transportation Safety Board has not experienced massive disruption like other agencies have. A DOGE team, though, was recently assigned to review the NTSB's contracts, staffing and leases, the agency confirmed to POLITICO. It happened about two weeks ago, the agency said Thursday. (Reuters first wrote of the team's existence.) — The NTSB declined to comment further, referring other questions to DOGE, whose recently departed spokesperson, Katie Miller, didn't respond to a request for comment. The group also didn't reply to a message sent via X, its preferred communications platform. SHOW ME THE MONEY: Your MT host examined DOGE's so-called Wall of Receipts, which details its cost-cutting efforts in a sometimes error-riddled fashion, to see how the safety board has fared. DOGE has posted five NTSB contracts it says it has terminated — but has only listed savings in one case: $23,405 for canceling an award to Monica Thakrar Inc., a consulting firm, for 'organizational development services.' (This figure is the difference between the total potential value of the contract and its currently obligated amount. The NTSB had already paid the company $7,519 for its work, according to USA Spending, but on Friday the firm told your MT host that the outlay was actually a bit higher than that: $8,786.) — DOGE claims $0 in savings for the four other terminations, according to data it published on May 26. These included contracts for LinkedIn software licenses and leadership training. BREAKING IT DOWN: NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy in March said the agency didn't fire any probationary workers as part of the Trump administration's wide-scale effort earlier in the year to terminate those employees, who have fewer job protections than other federal staff. She added that the NTSB was exempt from a 'deferred resignation' program. — In a mid-April letter to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, Homendy said the agency crafted a reduction-in-force and reorganization plan and expects to eliminate 14 positions 'through regular attrition,' including one in the Office of Highway Safety and two in the Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications. In the letter, which was seen by POLITICO and first reported by Reuters, Homendy added that she was reviewing all roles to 'ensure they are necessary to efficiently and effectively carry out our public safety mission.' Homendy in March told House appropriators that the agency had 427 employees. DOGE WATCH SO LONG ... SORTA?: During an Oval Office news conference Friday billed as a goodbye to Musk, President Donald Trump suggested that the billionaire might continue to drop by as DOGE continues its campaign. 'Elon's really not leaving, he's gonna be back and forth I think, I have a feeling,' Trump told reporters. — Musk, for his part, said he would remain a friend and 'adviser' to Trump. He added that it was only the beginning for DOGE. CHECK IT OUT: Debra Kahn, the former California bureau chief for POLITICO who has a background in covering transportation policy, is now a columnist — and her latest piece digs into Musk's relationship with Democrats, and how the party is conflicted over the billionaire's recent pivot to criticizing the GOP's reconciliation megabill. ELECTION 2026 DUFFY IN THE DOGHOUSE: Trump allies aren't happy with DOT Secretary Sean Duffy for jumping into Michigan's looming Senate primary, with the former congressman headlining a planned Wednesday fundraiser for his friend, Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), who's preparing to run against former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.). Adam Wren has the scoop. — The move puts Duffy at odds with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and 2024 Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita. 'He did not ask for it to be approved,' a person close to Trump told Adam. A spokesperson for Duffy didn't respond to a request for comment. APPROPRIATIONS DIGGING IN: Chris, Sam and Oriana have the latest on DOT's fiscal 2026 budget request, including how the Trump administration wants to slash money for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and is seeking $111.3 billion in 'new budgetary resources,' according to a summary from the agency. At the Agencies NOT NOW: Duffy recently said that DOT would conduct a RIF as soon as late May — but on Friday, an agency spokesperson confirmed that the department is holding off on a mass-layoff 'due to ongoing litigation' and will revisit the issue once the 'legal issues are resolved.' — As MT readers will know, a federal judge in California has temporarily blocked many agencies, including DOT, from carrying out RIFs while a lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Government Employees and other groups plays out. The Justice Department sought a pause of the judge's decision, but an appeals court on Friday denied that motion. drones GIVE 'EM A BOOST: A drone industry official told Oriana that the White House is preparing new executive orders that aim to bolster U.S. companies as Chinese rivals dominate the market. They could come as soon as Wednesday, but the strategy remains fluid and is still subject to change. Among other things, the Trump administration wants to speed up rules pending at the FAA that would allow drones to fly farther without an observer present. Aviation A BIT CONFUSING: During the news conference with Musk, Trump on Friday said 'we're bidding out' air traffic control systems 'to the best companies in the world.' (This is an apparent reference to Duffy's plan to modernize FAA infrastructure and technology that underpins the national airspace.) DOT is still seeking an unclear amount of funding from Congress to carry out the initiative. A SIGH OF RELIEF: Duffy in an X post Friday announced that runway construction at Newark Liberty International Airport, which compounded recent communications and radar issues, has wrapped up nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. NEXT STEPS: In a Sunday court filing, a federal judge in Texas laid out a timeline for the ongoing fraud conspiracy case tied to the 2018 and 2019 Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. (The Trump administration has reached a nonprosecution agreement with the company and has asked the judge to dismiss the case.) — Victims' families have to file any responses to the motion to dismiss by June 18, and the government and Boeing must file any replies by June 25. Space ANOTHER PROBE: The FAA said Friday it will oversee a SpaceX-led mishap investigation of the company's ninth test flight of its Starship craft, which broke up on reentry over the Indian Ocean following a propellant leak. (The vehicle's booster, meanwhile, blew up over the Gulf of Mexico, but the agency isn't requiring Musk's company to look into that as it was purposefully subjecting it to extreme testing.) — All 'debris landed within the designated hazard areas,' the FAA said, and there were no reports of injuries or property damage. Starship is grounded until the agency is satisfied with SpaceX's inquiry and its work to address whatever happened during the latest flight. NEW FACES ICYMI: In the premiere episode of The Conversation, POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns sat down with Mehmet Oz — now leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — for a candid talk on drug prices, potential Medicaid cuts and why he's getting early morning calls from Trump. Watch the full episode on YouTube. And don't miss a moment — subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes when they drop. The Autobahn — 'Musk Lobbies Washington to Clear Way for Self-Driving Cars.' Bloomberg. — 'On the Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama.' New York Times. — 'Trump Has Targeted a Plane China Sees as a 'Power' Symbol.' New York Times. — 'Ford recalls more than 29,000 vehicles in the US, NHTSA says.' Reuters. — 'Trump says he'll double steel tariff to 50 percent.' POLITICO Pro. — 'German carmakers promise 'massive' investments in US to dodge Trump tariffs.' POLITICO Pro. — 'Imports plunge in early sign of Trump tariff impact.' POLITICO. — 'White House plans to pull nomination for NASA administrator.' POLITICO.
Politico
27-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
DOJ moves to end Boeing felony case
With help from Oriana Pawlyk QUICK FIX — The Justice Department announced a non-prosecution agreement with Boeing in an ongoing fraud conspiracy case tied to deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. — The Army wrapped up an internal review after an early May incident in which a Black Hawk helicopter near the Pentagon caused go-arounds for two commercial jets. — It's a big day in court for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's lawsuit over the Trump administration's attempt to end congestion pricing in Manhattan. IT'S TUESDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'Out on the street, the traffic starts jumpin'/ With folks like me on the job from nine to five.' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the day BIG CHANGE: The Justice Department said Friday it had reached an agreement to end its felony case against Boeing for the company's role in the 2018 and 2019 MAX 8 disasters in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed 346 people. Oriana and Sam have the story. Under the deal, the plane-maker must spend more than $1.1 billion on fines, safety improvements and compensation for the relatives of those who died. Democratic lawmakers last week assailed the DOJ's shift. WHAT MUST THE COMPANY 'ADMIT' TO? Under the agreement, the Justice Department will ask a federal judge to dismiss the case — but Boeing will have to 'admit to conspiracy to obstruct and impede' federal regulators. The company declined to comment. DOJ in a statement said: 'Nothing will diminish the victims' losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.' AWAITING WORD: Judge Reed O'Connor, of the Northern District of Texas, could dismiss the case ahead of a scheduled trial next month. Victims' families filed a petition with the court Friday to oppose that. Aviation SERVICE SAYS IT'S OK: An internal Army review found 'no deviations from approved flight paths and no risk of intersecting air traffic' when on May 1 a Black Hawk helicopter flying in Washington airspace forced two commercial jets inbound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to perform go-around maneuvers, the military branch said in a statement Friday. (The Army suspended such flights after a wave of concern from lawmakers.) — The service said the Black Hawk was landing at the Pentagon at the time and carried no passengers, and its location was broadcast via ADS-B Out. The go-arounds, directed by air traffic controllers at Reagan National, were 'out of an apparent abundance of caution,' the Army said. The first of these occurred before the helicopter reached the Pentagon helipad and 'was the result of an issue with sequencing of air traffic' by the airport's tower, according to the Army. The second came during the Black Hawk's 'subsequent traffic pattern and was based on conflicting positional data from legacy tracking systems.' MORE SPECIFIC: Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, the Army's aviation chief, in an interview with the AP said that military air traffic controllers lost contact with the Black Hawk for about 20 seconds as it approached the Pentagon 'because a temporary control tower antenna was not set up in a location where it would be able to maintain contact,' the wire service reports. Reagan National controllers aborted the first plane landing as the Black Hawk flew toward the Pentagon because 'both aircraft would be nearing the [building] around the same time, Braman said.' Then, because of the loss of contact, 'the Pentagon's tower did not clear the Black Hawk to land, so the helicopter circled the Pentagon a second time. That's when [Reagan National] controllers ... decided to abort the landing of a second jet' because 'they did not have a confident fix on the Black Hawk's location,' according to the AP, which cited Braman. GETTING SOME CLARITY: In a call with reporters Friday, United Airlines offered a breakdown of how the FAA's interim order temporarily capping hourly arrival and departure rates at Newark Liberty International Airport compares to current flight operations. The key difference? The airport normally is scheduled to have 77 arrivals and departures per hour, but instead has regularly operated around 83 to 84 per hour (including both domestic and international travel). Many airlines reduced their schedules due to ongoing runway construction that goes until June 15 at Newark. Then, after the radar and communications outages began late last month, United further lowered its number of flights. — Now, under the FAA's order, both arrivals and departures can't exceed 28 per hour (56 total) until mid-June and on Saturdays from Sept. 1 until the end of the year. They also can't go above 34 per hour (68 total) through Oct. 25, after the daily runway construction wraps up next month. (The lower cap will still apply on Saturdays during this timeframe.) Automobiles TAKING IT TO COURT: A federal judge in New York City at 10 a.m. today will hold a hearing on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's pending request for a preliminary injunction that would block DOT from terminating the congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan while a lawsuit continues. (Others are seeking an injunction, as well: the New York DOT, New York City DOT and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.) Electric Vehicles DISMISSIVE: A day after the Government Accountability Office concluded that DOT had violated federal impoundment law by refusing to spend appropriated funds on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, White House budget director Russell Vought on Friday mocked the watchdog's opinion in an X post. 'These are non-events with no consequence. Rearview mirror stuff,' he wrote, after noting that he expects similar GAO findings in the future. ALL IN THIS TOGETHER? The governors of Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington said Friday they are joining California to form an 'Affordable Clean Cars Coalition' — but avoided any policy commitments, Camille von Kaenel reports. The announcement came after the Senate voted last week to overturn a Biden-era EPA waiver for California's EV mandate, which these states had signed on to. (Some had recently taken steps to roll back their commitments.) At the Agencies ICYMI: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee in an X post Friday, referencing a recent Reuters report that a DOGE team has been assigned to review operations at the NTSB, said: 'This is a blatant conflict of interest. Oversight Dems will not allow Musk to weaken the agency that keeps our roads safe and give his company a free pass.' (The independent safety board has probed Tesla crashes.) The Autobahn — 'Runway lights not working before fatal San Diego plane crash, NTSB says.' Washington Post. — 'SpaceX Pushes to Get Starship Rocket Ready for Mars by Next Year.' Wall Street Journal. — 'Tariffs Add Fuel to Hot Used-Car Sales.' Wall Street Journal. — 'Daddy's home: Andy Byford to make NYC return for Penn Station remake, White House says.' Gothamist. — 'Inside United's Command Center at Newark Airport.' New York Times.
Politico
19-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
DOGE takes aim at DOT leases
Presented by The American Public Transportation Association With help from Oriana Pawlyk QUICK FIX — Elon Musk's cost-cutting squad claims to have canceled leases for DOT subagencies across 20 states and Puerto Rico. 'It's part of the chaos,' an FTA employee said. — Boeing and the Justice Department have discussed a possible nonprosecution agreement to avoid a June trial in a fraud case tied to the 2018 and 2019 737 MAX crashes. — Buckle up: The House GOP is facing down a (self-imposed) crunch time for its megabill. Here's the state of play. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'So I started driving/ And left my home behind me/ The row there kept reminding/ Of pages in your writing.' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the day A BUZZSAW: DOT is getting hit by DOGE's cost-cutting crew — and not just in Washington. The group says it has terminated more than two dozen leases from Oregon to Rhode Island for six subagencies, a POLITICO analysis found. Sam has the story. (The review was based on data that DOGE updated on May 11.) — The slash-and-burn campaign conflicts with the Trump administration's push to nix remote work, sowing confusion among staff. 'They said 'drain the swamp,' but apparently the swamp is the whole country,' said an FHWA employee, granted anonymity due to fear of professional reprisal. — A DOT spokesperson in a statement said the department is working to provide 'alternative duty stations and duty station reassignments for employees whose office lease is being terminated' and aims to ensure that 'return-to-work policies are still being upheld.' BY THE NUMBERS: Elon Musk's team reported 26 lease cancellations total for the FHWA, FMCSA, FTA, FRA, MARAD and PHMSA. The terminations stretched across 20 states and Puerto Rico. Aviation POTENTIAL (CONTROVERSIAL) RESOLUTION: DOJ lawyers in a Friday meeting told families of victims from the 2018 and 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crashes that the federal government and aerospace company have discussed a possible nonprosecution agreement to avoid a trial set for June 23 — an idea the relatives strongly oppose, a court filing shows. — The Justice Department said the parties have 'not exchanged a draft written agreement' and prosecutors have yet to make up their minds on whether they should enter into it. (The fraud case is tied to the Indonesia and Ethiopia disasters, which killed 346 people.) 'The Government will continue to consider all of the views expressed during the conferral before it decides how to proceed,' DOJ court papers say. The department added that it has agreed to receive comments from families by Thursday, and after that it will 'promptly' inform a federal judge of how it plans to move forward. Boeing declined to comment to POLITICO. NO DECISION YET: The FAA said Friday that, over the course of three days, regulators met last week with airlines to weigh flight reductions at Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been grappling with a string of radar and communications problems, among other issues. A final determination on arrival rates, the agency said, will come on or after May 28. — The FAA said it is proposing a maximum arrival rate of 28 aircraft per hour until some runway construction wraps up at Newark. Daily work will end June 15, and will continue on Saturdays through year's end. Outside of that period, the agency wants to cap the hourly arrival rate at 34 aircraft until Oct. 25. — That's a similar (but seemingly scaled-back) version of an earlier proposal the FAA detailed in the Federal Register last week. Initially, the agency said it wanted both hourly arrival and departure rates of no more than 28 aircraft until June 15, continuing on weekends from Sept. 1 through the end of the year, from Fridays at 11:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. on Sundays. Outside of those periods, the FAA pitched a 'targeted' scheduling rate of 34 arrivals per hour, and a corresponding departure rate of the same number, through Oct. 25, between 6 a.m. and 10:59 p.m. The FAA said Sunday it would respond to a request for comment today. On The Hill IN A RUSH: House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to muscle through the GOP's reconciliation legislation by Memorial Day — and his struggle to find consensus between moderates and conservatives arguing over spending cuts and tax policy will be the major issue this week on Capitol Hill. (For a primer on the House Transportation Committee's slice of the package, see here.) Otherwise, it's a relatively slow week for transportation issues in Congress as the holiday approaches. On the agenda: — 1 p.m. Tuesday: The House Appropriations Committee's homeland security panel will host an oversight hearing about TSA. Acting administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill will testify. Expect questions about everything from the Trump administration's staffing cuts to CLEAR. — 10 a.m. Wednesday: The Senate Commerce Committee will mark up David Armstrong Fink's nomination for FRA administrator and Robert Gleason's nomination to join the Amtrak board of directors. They are expected to be approved. During a confirmation hearing last week, Gleason, a former chair of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, avoided any fireworks, and Fink emerged relatively unscathed despite some concerns from Democrats about a New England freight railroad he ran, Pan Am Railways. (Under his leadership, the FRA once raised serious safety concerns about the company.) At the Agencies TAKING IT TO THE HIGH COURT: The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to immediately proceed with its plan to conduct mass layoffs, known as reductions in force. The government appealed a California federal judge's recent order, which lasts through Friday, preventing them from taking place, including at DOT, Hassan Ali Kanu reports. (Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy previously said an RIF will occur at the department, but not until late May at the earliest.) Maritime FRIGHTENING SCENE: The NTSB said early Sunday it was sending a go-team to New York City after a Mexican Navy tall ship, the Cuauhtémoc, crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge late Saturday, snapping its masts. Almost 280 people were aboard the vessel, and two crew members were killed. New York City Mayor Eric Adams in an X post said a preliminary inspection found no damage to the bridge, and it had reopened. Automobiles ROAD TRIPPIN': DOT said Friday that Duffy will hold an expo at the agency's headquarters, open to the public on May 29, that will feature various U.S.-made vehicles, 'including the best road trip ready models like SUVs to family-friendly minivans and RVs.' Industry will be on hand to share 'tips and resources,' and Duffy is anticipated to make a 'major announcement.' The Autobahn — 'Newark's Air Traffic Control Staffing Crisis Is Dire. It's Also Not Unique.' New York Times. — 'Audio Data Shows Newark Outage Problems Persisted Longer Than Officials Said.' New York Times. — 'New Jersey, State of Constant Motion, Learns to Live With Immobility.' New York Times. — 'Local leaders say they'll pay $5.6 billion to automate Metro.' Washington Post. — 'US Says It's Not Decided Next Steps on NYC's Congestion Pricing.' Bloomberg. — 'U.S. Government Drops Lawsuit Against Southwest Airlines.' Wall Street Journal. — 'GM Is Pushing Hard to Tank California's EV Mandate.' Wall Street Journal. — 'Appeals court lifts block on Trump executive order targeting federal worker unions.' POLITICO. — 'NJ Transit strike ends after shutting down New Jersey trains for weekend, union says.' POLITICO.
Politico
17-03-2025
- Business
- Politico
RIF uncertainty reigns
Presented by With help from Chris Marquette and Oriana Pawlyk Quick Fix — The beleaguered federal workforce, including at DOT, is bracing for wide-scale layoffs — and what will happen next with probationary workers a court ordered be rehired is unclear. — The Justice Department got another four weeks to continue talks with Boeing over a plea agreement tied to the 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. — The FAA offered (some) clarity on how it is using artificial intelligence to identify aviation risks in the wake of January's regional jet-Black Hawk disaster. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'A subway train thunders through the Bronx/ A taxi horn on the corner honks/ But I adore every roar/ And what more do I need?' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the day WHAT'S NEXT?: There's a growing sense of whiplash and uncertainty across the federal workforce — with DOT being no exception — as employees hunker down for the Trump administration's boldest attempt yet to slash its head count: massive reduction-in-force orders, which will be reviewed at the White House. — To recap, after an initial wave of firings of probationary workers, who have fewer job protections, agencies are now planning wide-scale layoffs, known as RIFs. Your MT team has documented how employees at DOT who helped make sure travelers are safe got swept up in the earlier mid-February purge — and this raises questions about exactly what similar functions may be the next target? — Asked for the agency's RIF plan, or whether it had been finalized, a DOT spokesperson last week gave a statement to your MT host that didn't really answer the questions. They instead noted that DOT is working with Elon Musk and his cost-cutters to ax 'waste, fraud, and abuse' while also 'investing in our core mission of safety, finding new efficiencies, and unleashing a wave of innovation.' AND THEN THERE'S THE COURTS: Adding to the confusion is the rapid-fire decisions last week from two federal judges who reversed the administration's culling of scores of probationary workers. One of them, Judge James Bredar of Maryland, ordered DOT and over a dozen other agencies to reinstate the fired employees before 1 p.m. today. Bredar also directed officials to file court papers showing how they've complied with his decision — such as the number of workers brought back 'to the greatest degree of granularity practicable.' (His order expires on March 27, but the Democratic state attorneys general who brought the case can argue for an extension.) — Your MT team on Friday had yet to hear of any fired workers returning to DOT. The Justice Department quickly appealed both rulings, only further muddying the situation. — The looming RIFs, meanwhile, raise the prospect of employees being rehired only to be quickly laid off. Aviation KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD: The DOJ on Friday again asked for more time to decide what to do with the Boeing plea agreement related to the 737 MAX 8 crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. In a joint filing, the agency and the planemaker sought an additional four weeks so they could keep hashing out the issue. (They want to file another status report by April 11.) — 'The parties have not reached agreement but continue to work in good faith toward that end, to include the briefing of new Department leadership,' the court papers read. — Judge Reed O'Connor, presiding over the case in the Northern District of Texas, swiftly granted the extension Friday. A BIT MORE CLARITY: Duffy last week touted how the FAA is deploying artificial intelligence to identify any 'hot spots' at U.S. airports where helicopters and planes fly close to one another, like at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The agency on Friday drilled down into (some) of the specifics: — The FAA said it is 'using machine learning and language modeling to scan incident reports and mine multiple data sources to find themes and areas of risk.' The agency added that it is assessing eight cities with charted helicopter routes: Boston, New York, the Baltimore-D.C. area, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles, as well as the Gulf Coast, including offshore operations. Regulators said they will issue corrective action plans if they identify any issues. YES, WE'RE DOING IT: The FAA confirmed Friday that it's permanently restricting certain helicopter traffic around Reagan National after the NTSB issued an urgent recommendation to do so while it continues to probe January's air disaster. — One new nugget: The FAA said it will limit the use of visual separation to certain Coast Guard, Marine and Park Police helicopter operations outside of the restricted airspace. — The FAA added that if helicopters must fly through what's known as the Route 4 area for an urgent reason, like medical treatment or presidential transport, the agency will 'keep them specific distances away from airplanes.' WHAT TRUMP WANTS: During a Fox News interview aired Friday, Duffy said DOT and the FAA are not yet ready to allow Boeing to increase its production cap of 38 737 MAX per month, which regulators imposed after last year's door plug blowout. But he added that, when it comes to Trump, who is miffed at Boeing's Air Force One delays, the president 'wants us to not be too restrictive. He wants us to be smart and loosen up' the limitations on Boeing's production 'when it's appropriate.' SLIGHT UPTICK: DOT said Friday that airlines logged a cancellation rate of 1.4 percent last year — a small increase from 1.3 percent in 2023. — They also reported 437 tarmac delays lasting more than three hours on domestic flights in 2024, a roughly 51 percent increase compared to the year prior. APPROPRIATIONS A REPUBLICAN VICTORY: The Senate passed a House-GOP written spending bill, 54-46, almost entirely along party lines Friday after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decided it wasn't worth risking a shutdown, enraging his party's progressive flank, Katherine Tully-McManus reports. The nearly seven-month stopgap, which Trump signed Saturday and runs through Sept. 30, includes: — A provision that extends existing DOJ and DHS counter-drone authorities until the end of the fiscal year. — A roughly $15.8 million rescission for operations and support at the Transportation Security Administration. Automobiles EYEING ABUSE POTENTIAL: Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) are introducing a bill today that would set up a process in which domestic violence and sexual assault survivors can request that internet-connected vehicle manufacturers disable an abuser's access to such technology. Automakers would have to publish information on their websites about how survivors can ask them to take action. The legislation would direct the FCC, in consultation with NHTSA, to conduct a rulemaking. — As MT readers will know, during the fight over Massachusetts' 2020 right-to-repair ballot measure, the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, a group funded by automaker trade groups, warned that bad actors could hack into wireless vehicle data and expose sensitive geolocation markers that could reveal where people go and when. The Autobahn — 'Major air carriers challenge ruling on Biden airline fee rules.' Reuters. — 'Tesla warns it could face retaliatory tariffs.' Reuters. — 'Astronaut crew docks with space station to replace 'Butch and Suni.'' Reuters. — 'Conservatives' Tesla Rescue Mission Has Its Work Cut Out.' New York Times. — 'China Condemns Panama Canal Deal, Asserting a Right to Influence the Region.' New York Times. — 'BMW Expects $1.1 Billion Earnings Hit From Tariffs This Year.' Wall Street Journal. — 'Tesla Develops Cheaper Model Y in China to Battle Growing Competition.' Wall Street Journal. — 'Don't click on those road toll texts. Officials issue warnings about the smishing scam.' AP. — 'FAA proposes inspections for 'excessive gaps' in Boeing's 787.' Seattle Times. — 'Elon Reportedly Orders Government to Stop Feeding the Bomb-Sniffing Dogs.' Futurism. — 'FAA Has Taken Steps To Prevent and Mitigate Runway Incursions, but Work Remains To Improve Data Analytics and Implement Key Initiatives.' DOT Office of Inspector General.
Politico
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
A spending bill brawl or early recess?
Presented by American Public Transportation Association With help from Oriana Pawlyk Quick Fix — A possible government shutdown looms this week. Here's what House Republicans' funding patch would mean for DHS. — The agency said it will cancel the collective bargaining agreement that covers baggage screeners at the Transportation Security Administration. Prepare for a legal battle. — Marc Molinaro, the nominee to lead the Federal Transit Administration, pledged to stop consulting for Cornell University and a New York City private equity firm if he makes it through the Senate. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'Passed Alger Brook Road, I'm over the bridge/ A minute from home but I feel so far from it.' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the Week IT'S A SHOWDOWN: House Republicans dropped their spending stopgap over the weekend as a potential government shutdown inches closer. With a deadline of midnight Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to hold a floor vote on the continuing resolution Tuesday evening. If he can muscle it through the chamber, GOP leaders are likely to cancel any further House votes this week and send members home early for the upcoming recess, which would pressure the Senate to not amend the bill, Meredith Lee Hill reports. President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed the nearly seven-month funding patch, which would run through the end of fiscal 2025. WHAT'S IN THE CR? The stopgap would boost defense spending by about $6 billion, while non-defense funding would drop by roughly $13 billion. (Earmarks would be stripped in the package.) Meredith and Jennifer Scholtes have the story. Your MT host noticed these tidbits in the legislation: — The bill would extend existing counter-drone authorities for the Justice Department and DHS until late September. — The Transportation Security Administration would see a rescission of about $15.8 million for operations and support. Aviation COURT FIGHT LIKELY: DHS announced Friday that it plans to terminate the collective bargaining agreement that covers about 45,000 workers at TSA, including baggage scanners, Nick Niedzwiadek and Oriana report. The move is expected to draw a lawsuit. — The agency confirmed that it will immediately stop using its payroll system to collect union dues, and in a statement argued that the decision will 'strengthen workforce agility.' The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing screeners, said the action disregards workers' rights and in a statement called it 'clearly retaliatory' for the organization's recent lawsuits against the Trump administration. SEEKING DETAILS: A group of almost 50 House Democrats, including Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Transportation Committee, wrote to acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau on Friday seeking clarity on whether the agency plans to cancel a $2.4 billion Verizon contract to upgrade an air traffic control communications system and award the work to Elon Musk's Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX. They asked for a response no later than Friday. (SpaceX has denied reports that Starlink could fully take over the contract.) CANTWELL DRILLS DOWN: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Commerce Committee, sent a letter Friday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting information on how many military helicopters in the Washington region operate without ADS-B Out transmitting. (The technology broadcasts various details about an aircraft.) As MT readers will know, this has become a key issue for lawmakers in the wake of the regional jet-Black Hawk crash above the Potomac River. MAKING THE ROUNDS: Duffy will be in Seattle on Thursday to tour Boeing and learn more about the company's processes and engineering, according to a DOT spokesperson. Reminder: Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg will appear before lawmakers in early April for a Commerce Committee hearing on what the planemaker has been doing to address safety and production issues. NEW REVIEW: The FAA said Friday it will launch a safety-risk analysis of 'close encounters' between pilots flying visually and those under air traffic control. The action follows a meeting last week involving more than two dozen agency, industry and labor leaders. The FAA also plans to boost outreach about radio communication phrases and Notice to Airmen alerts around busy airports. And the agency said it will explore 'additional tools for pilots to assess operational risk and their own performance.' Ethics STEPPING ASIDE: Marc Molinaro, Trump's pick to head the Federal Transit Administration, says he will stop consulting for Cornell University and a New York City private equity firm focused on the aerospace and maritime industries, among other sectors, if he makes it through the Senate, according to his ethics agreement released Friday. Molinaro also pledges to not participate 'personally and substantially' in any matters involving the college or the firm, J.F. Lehman & Company LLC, in the year after he resigns from his roles — unless he first gets government authorization to do so. — Molinaro in his financial disclosure, which was also published Friday, reported $75,000 and $4,000 in consulting fees from the company and the university, respectively. Cornell didn't respond to a request for clarification on what his work entailed. Molinaro, a former House Republican from New York who came up short in his reelection bid last year, also says he would stop consulting for other entities, too, such as Red Maverick Media, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, political consulting firm that touts its work as Sen. Susan Collins' (R-Maine) 2020 campaign mail vendor. On The Hill NOT AT THE FOREFRONT: Your MT host caught up with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Shelley Moore Capito ( who chair the Commerce Committee and Environment and Public Works Committee, respectively, to ask if they want to overturn any DOT regulations via a Congressional Review Act resolution: — Cruz: 'None that come to mind immediately,' he said. 'We're systematically assessing rules from every agency and seeing which ones are appropriate for the CRA.' — Capito: 'I mean, we are looking at it, but ... nothing comes to mind,' she said. HEADED TO THE FLOOR: The Senate appears poised to consider a motion Tuesday to invoke cloture on Steven Bradbury's nomination to be deputy DOT secretary — and his full floor vote is expected to come about two hours later. Bradbury, the agency's former general counsel and a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation, who contributed to Project 2025, is likely to be confirmed along party lines. BATTER UP: Molinaro, the FTA administrator nominee, may appear before the Senate Banking Committee the week of March 24 (after the upcoming recess), a person close to the process told Chris on Friday. Trucking TAKING CHARGE: DOT said Friday that Adrienne Camire, who was FHWA's chief counsel during the first Trump term, will be the FMCSA's acting administrator. Duffy in a statement praised Camire and said he has 'no doubt' that the agency will 'continue to make our roads safer and keep America moving under her leadership.' Chris has the details. At the Agencies DRESS FOR SUCCESS: Chris obtained a recent memo from DOT to employees outlining a new dress code pilot that applies to those working out of the agency's headquarters in Navy Yard. It's called 'Dress for Your Day.' (Workers like inspectors, who wear uniforms outside of the office, must have attire that aligns with safety regulations.) Your MT team wants to hear from you! What are your thoughts on the policy? Reach Chris via Signal at: (202) 417-4999. — The announcement follows remarks that Duffy made at a virtual town hall last month, during which he said he was exploring a 'more casual environment' when it comes to the dress code at headquarters. 'I like to wear a suit when I have to wear a suit, but I like to dress down when I can dress down,' he said. SO WHAT, EXACTLY, IS THE PILOT?: The policy is intended to give employees flexibility in how they dress based on their work activities. A few highlights that illustrate the idea: — Business casual: This is for office work outside of a formal meeting. Expect shirts, blouses, trousers, skirts and professional footwear. (At the town hall, Duffy said no to shorts or flip flops.) — Smart casual: I.e., 'less formal Fridays' — like when office hours change due to bad weather. In this case, you're free to rock dark or colored denim, polos, sweaters and casual (but still sleek) footwear. The Autobahn — 'The FAA's Troubles Are More Serious Than You Know.' Atlantic. — 'Inside the Explosive Meeting Where Trump Officials Clashed With Elon Musk.' New York Times. — 'Trump's Tariffs Could Help Tesla, by Hurting Its Rivals More.' New York Times. — 'Rage Against Elon Musk Turns Tesla Into a Target.' New York Times. — 'Teen with gun on plane disarmed and tackled by passengers.' Washington Post. — 'Wi-Fi From Musk's Starlink Is Now Coming to a United Airlines Airplane Near You.' Bloomberg. — 'Volkswagen to recall over 177,000 SUVs over loose engine cover, NHTSA says.' Reuters. — 'Nissan board to discuss potential CEO successors at March 11 meeting, sources say.' Reuters. — 'Pulitzer winner Gates retiring from Seattle Times.' Talking Biz News. — ''I don't trust a word of it': Federal workers deeply skeptical that Trump will rein in Musk.' POLITICO Pro. — 'Trucking, construction companies sue over California's diesel emissions rule.' POLITICO Pro.
