Sean Duffy Critiques Buttigieg's FAA Leadership Failures

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has come under fire from current Secretary Sean Duffy following Buttigieg's criticisms of recent FAA personnel cutbacks and their potential link to increased airline incidents. Buttigieg questioned the number of FAA employees fired, prompting Duffy to highlight that only probationary staff were let go and that no air traffic controllers were affected. Duffy accused Buttigieg of mismanagement during his tenure, claiming he failed to address the longstanding air traffic controller shortage and criticized the Department of Transportation's focus on environmental initiatives. He asserted that more than 90% of employees were working from home during Buttigieg's leadership, leaving the department's operations lacking. Buttigieg's recent remarks have been interpreted as an attempt to maintain relevance as he considers a political future, potentially eyeing a Senate run in 2026. This exchange comes amid a backdrop of recent aviation safety concerns and incidents, with both sides trading blame for the current state of the industry.