Senate Dem Moves to Block Elon Musk From FAA Systems: ‘Last Thing I Want Is That Guy Trying to Control the Airspace’
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sounded the alarm on Elon Musk accessing and “upgrading” the FAA’s systems while talking to Capitol Hill reporters on Thursday.
“I’m sending a letter to Secretary Duffy. It’s a clear conflict of interest, and Secretary Duffy should make sure that Mr. Musk is not part of the FAA air transportation system,” Cantwell told reporters.
On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on X that Musk’s DOGE team “are going to plug in to help upgrade our aviation system.”
Cantwell continued, noting Musk “has been fined for violations. He worked hard to try to get Mr. Whitaker [the former head of the FAA] somebody who was approved 98 to 0, I think, out of the system. And it is a clear conflict of interest.”
“How bad of an idea is it to have DOGE involved in FAA which and their imprimatur has been cut, cut, cut and they’re short on controllers?” asked a reporter.
“The Congress has spoken. We want 3,000 more air traffic controllers. If President Trump and the administration want to talk to Congress about ways to get even more air traffic controllers because they’ve been working six days a week, we will certainly take that conversation,” Cantwell replied, adding:
And if they wants to help implement NextGen faster, we will take that. And if he wants to help implement standards for both the military and other commercial pilot, commercial airplanes to have this what is called ADSP in and out, which gives you more information about who’s in your airspace. We gladly welcome that, too.
What we don’t welcome is a man who’s regulated by this sector and who has had fines for violation of safety, which is launch issues related to protecting the flying public at a time when you need the FAA to call the shots and say don’t launch now because there could be a conflict in the airspace. The last thing I want is that guy trying to control the airspace.
Musk forced out FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Whitaker had sparred with Musk in the past over the timing of his SpaceX flights and the debris left in the airspace from failed takeoffs. Many pundits and observers accused Musk of creating chaos at the FAA by forcing out Whitaker and offering all FAA employees, including air traffic controllers, immediate buyouts to stop working.
Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.
