Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not hold back this week when responding to former Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s attempts to blame recent plane crashes on government cutbacks under the Trump administration. In a fiery exchange on social media, Duffy dismissed Buttigieg’s claims as a desperate political move and accused him of gross mismanagement during his time at the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Buttigieg, now eyeing a potential Senate run in Michigan, posted on X (formerly Twitter) questioning whether staffing reductions at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) played a role in recent aviation incidents. “The flying public needs answers,” he wrote. “How many FAA personnel were just fired? What positions? And why?”
His comments come in the wake of multiple plane crashes, including a tragic collision between a commercial airliner and a helicopter in Washington, D.C., last month. However, Duffy was quick to set the record straight.
“Mayor Pete failed for four years to address the air traffic controller shortage and upgrade our outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system,” Duffy fired back. “In less than four weeks, we have already begun the process and are engaging the smartest minds in the entire world.”
Mayor Pete failed for four years to address the air traffic controller shortage and upgrade our outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system. In less than four weeks, we have already begun the process and are engaging the smartest minds in the entire world.
Here’s the… https://t.co/LCL1dswC2T
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 18, 2025
Duffy then provided the facts: the FAA has approximately 45,000 employees, and fewer than 400 were let go—all probationary hires with less than a year on the job. “Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go,” he emphasized, dismantling Buttigieg’s implication that staffing cuts were to blame for recent aviation safety concerns.
But Duffy didn’t stop there. He accused Buttigieg of using the DOT as “a slush fund for the green new scam and environmental justice nonsense” instead of focusing on critical transportation issues.
He also pointed out that during Buttigieg’s tenure, over 90% of the DOT workforce was working from home—including Buttigieg himself. “The building was empty!” Duffy said, vowing that a full audit of Buttigieg’s leadership would reveal the extent of the department’s dysfunction.
The sharp exchange between Duffy and Buttigieg highlights the stark contrast in their approaches to transportation policy. While Duffy is focused on modernizing air traffic control and addressing safety concerns, Buttigieg appears to be positioning himself for a political future in Michigan, where he is reportedly considering a Senate run following the unexpected retirement of Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).