A fiery exchange erupted on social media between Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The disagreement centered around plans to update the nation’s air traffic control system, and both officials made allegations concerning safety and management issues.
Duffy announced on X Wednesday that the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to assist in upgrading the aviation system. “Big News – Talked to the DOGE team. They will plug in to help upgrade our aviation system,” he wrote.
Clinton, 77, expressed skepticism about DOGE’s qualifications during a 92NY event with Reid Hoffman in New York City, New York on, January 28, 2025. “Most of them aren’t old enough to rent a car,” she wrote on X. “And you’re going to let them mess with airline safety that’s already deteriorated on your watch?”
Duffy, 53, responded to the former presidential candidate’s criticism by stating, “Madam Secretary, with all due respect, ‘experienced’ Washington bureaucrats are the reason our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling. You need to sit this one out.”
The debate intensified after an outage of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) primary warning system for pilots on Saturday, February 1. This incident occurred three days after the fatal collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which resulted in 67 deaths. Secretary Duffy addressed the media about the collision in a press conference on January 30, 2025.
DOGE leader Elon Musk reaffirmed his team’s dedication to enhancing the safety of the air traffic control system during an indoor presidential inauguration parade event in Washington on January 20, 2025. He confirmed his team’s commitment to “rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system.” The DOGE team, whose members range from 19 to 24, is responsible for reviewing and enhancing government department efficiency.
Clinton further fueled the controversy on Thursday, attributing the recent fatal crashes to the dismissal of the FAA chief and threats of layoffs to air traffic controllers by the Trump administration. “Then MAGA fired the FAA chief, gutted the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and threatened air traffic controllers with layoffs. Now, there have been two fatal crashes. Hope your unvetted 22-year-olds fix things fast,” she stated.
Duffy refuted Clinton’s allegations, suggesting that her sudden interest in aviation safety was a ploy to deflect from DOGE’s ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct linked to her family. He specifically claimed that the federal agency USAID had directed taxpayer money to initiatives benefiting entities connected to the Clinton Foundation. Moreover, Duffy noted that the FAA administrator had announced his resignation more than a month before Trump took office, contradicting Clinton’s claims.
Mike Whitaker, unanimously confirmed as the FAA administrator in October 2023 during the Biden administration, left his position prematurely on January 20, the day Trump assumed office. For the next ten days, the identity of the acting leader of the FAA remained undisclosed.
Following the airline crash in Washington, D.C., President Trump appointed Christopher Rocheleau as the FAA’s acting commissioner.
Duffy also criticized the Biden administration for allocating funds toward climate initiatives instead of addressing the declining state of the air traffic control system. He reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing safety by integrating advanced technology in transportation and infrastructure. According to Duffy, Clinton and her political allies had already mishandled these issues, leaving the system in urgent need of reform.
President Trump addressed the growing concerns over aviation safety at the National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol, indicating his administration’s intention to overhaul the air traffic control system in collaboration with Congress. This is part of his broader initiative to modernize the country’s vital transportation infrastructure by leveraging technology and eliminating inefficiencies.
Despite criticism over their expertise, DOGE, led by Elon Musk, is set to play a pivotal role in implementing these upgrades. The young team has already started planning improvements, and Musk stresses their quick action to enhance safety across the system.