Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy appeared on national television Sunday in a high-stakes effort to quell rising public concern following a series of recent air traffic mishaps and aviation incidents across the United States. In a widely viewed segment on NBC’s Meet the Press, Duffy consistently argued that Elon Musk, billionaire CEO of SpaceX and leader of the newly created Department of Government Optimization (DOGO), bore no responsibility for federal budget cuts that critics say have undermined the FAA’s ability to ensure safe skies.
Duffy’s media push came amid a turbulent week for American air travel. Delays, technical outages, and infrastructure failures — especially at Newark Liberty International Airport — reignited longstanding fears about the state of the Federal Aviation Administration. Though no specific event has been definitively connected to DOGO or Musk, concerns have grown louder over the White House’s sweeping efficiency reforms.
At the heart of the issue: Has one man’s dream of a “streamlined government” compromised the aviation safety net?
During the interview, Duffy attempted to separate blame from Musk or DOGO and pointed instead to outdated FAA systems. “We’re talking about technology that’s 25, even 50 years behind,” he said. “Congress hasn’t prioritized it. They assume it just works, but it’s long overdue for an upgrade.”
He cited telecom issues and aging software as the main culprits. “The signals are flashing, the warnings are clear — we need urgent modernization.”
NBC host Kristen Welker challenged this defense, highlighting that under Musk’s DOGO, there had been workforce changes within the FAA. She asked whether cost-cutting had led to a reduced number of air traffic controllers or delayed tech upgrades. Duffy stood firm: “We’ve actually increased hiring. More controllers are on the job now than before.”
He admitted that around 350 trainees — with less than a year on the job — were released during staffing reviews. But he emphasized that “critical safety positions were untouched” and many of the dismissed personnel had returned. “With 46,000 employees at FAA, a few hundred doesn’t impact the core mission. Safety remains our top concern.”
Welker pressed further, questioning if Musk had directly requested controller cuts. Duffy responded unequivocally: “Musk never told me to cut air traffic controllers. That never happened.”
He did admit there were internal discussions about which FAA roles were essential. “We reviewed new hires,” he explained. “Some were released temporarily. Many are now back.”
Attempting to reshape Musk’s image, Duffy described him as deeply committed to aviation safety. “SpaceX depends on safe skies. We need skilled controllers to coordinate launches and flights,” he said. “Musk gets that.”
Still, the reassurance did little to quiet critics. Duffy acknowledged that further system failures could be expected. “What we saw at Newark will likely happen elsewhere,” he cautioned.
The political stakes remain high. DOGO, endorsed by the Trump administration as a bold government overhaul, has drawn intense scrutiny. Critics argue that Musk’s tech-forward, anti-red tape mindset is unsuitable for safety agencies that require strict regulation. Supporters counter that bloated legacy systems pose a greater risk than reform.
Duffy’s defense of both DOGO and Musk seems aimed at striking a balance between political loyalty and damage control. His remarks mirrored the White House stance that the FAA’s current struggles stem from decades of neglect, not recent changes.
“This didn’t break overnight,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Yet skepticism lingers. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) continues to warn of dangerously low staffing levels at major hubs like Newark, Atlanta, and LAX.
Reports show rising fatigue among controllers, many of whom are working shifts above safe thresholds.
Meanwhile, watchdogs are calling for an independent review of DOGO’s impact. “We can’t let billionaires influence public safety unchecked,” said a lead analyst at Public Sector Insight, a Washington watchdog. “If Musk wants to run rockets, fine. But the nation’s airspace is not a private experiment.”
Travelers are growing frustrated. Delays, cancellations, and unpredictability plague airports. Online, comparisons to developing-world airports have gone viral — a painful reminder for a country that once led global aviation.
As for Duffy, his Meet the Press appearance may have temporarily deflected criticism, but it also spotlighted how an unelected mogul like Musk might be shaping national policy.
For now, flights remain packed, controllers stretched, and system failures likely to repeat. Whether DOGO’s “efficiency-first” approach holds up under growing dysfunction remains uncertain.
But one thing is clear: Musk’s influence over America’s skies won’t fade from public view anytime soon.