Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy responded to criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who had accused President Donald Trump of neglecting aviation safety during his time in office. Duffy stated on “Hannity” that there were significant issues he believed Buttigieg overlooked. “There were 85 near misses on the Potomac before the DCA plane crash. Pete did nothing,” Duffy said.
He argued that Buttigieg diverted attention and funding, spending $80 billion on diversity and climate initiatives instead of addressing air traffic control issues. Duffy emphasized that Buttigieg lowered training standards at the FAA, which he feels contributed to worsening conditions in the air traffic system. He suggested Buttigieg was trying to reframe his record as he positions himself for another presidential run, saying, “the truth is, he barely showed up at DOT.”
Duffy’s remarks followed Buttigieg’s comments about Trump advocating for air traffic controllers to return to work amidst extensive flight disruptions. “The president will last less than five minutes as an air traffic controller,” Buttigieg contended.
Duffy further criticized Buttigieg for prioritizing political ambitions over effectively handling the transportation crisis, dubbing him “no-show Pete.” He repeated concerns that Buttigieg was focusing on his presidential aspirations rather than addressing current issues within the DOT.
Buttigieg has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2028 Democratic nomination alongside other notable figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
