(NewsNation) — Employees from Elon Musk’s SpaceX team will be visiting the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control Command Center in Virginia on the heels of a deadly collision between a passenger jet and military helicopter in Washington, D.C.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said members of the SpaceX team will get a “firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system.”
Duffy said on X earlier this month that the Department of Government Efficiency, which SpaceX CEO Elon Musk leads, is going to “plug in” to help upgrade the aviation system. Some have said this could blur the line in terms of Musks’ private businesses and his role at DOGE.
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To head off any criticism, Duffy said on X that the FAA regularly gives tours of the command center to media and companies.
Later this week, Duffy said he is traveling to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma to meet with air traffic controller instructors and students.
“@USDOT is open to any and all patriotic developers or companies who want to help our country in this incredible, game-changing mission,” Duffy said. “I hope to hear from any company committed to ushering in America’s golden age of travel!”
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns that air traffic control has not been staffed to the level it needs to be. This issue has been talked about over the years as air traffic controllers have reported being overburdened and overworked.
FAA Firings
Recently, the Trump administration and those within DOGE have continued with their goal to downsize the federal government. This includes the FAA.
According to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, which represents some FAA workers, several hundred employees were fired “without cause.”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement Monday that it is “analyzing the effect of the reported federal employee terminations on aviation safety, the national airspace system and our members.”
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David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, said the organization is “troubled and disappointed by the administration’s decision to fire FAA probationary employees.”
“These are not nameless, faceless bureaucrats. They are our family, friends and neighbors. They contribute to our communities,” Spero said. “Many military veterans are among them. It is shameful to toss aside dedicated public servants who have chosen to work on behalf of their fellow Americans.”
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg under former President Joe Biden said on BlueSky that the “flying public needs answers” about how many FAA personnel were fired and why.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
