Several Democrats who criticize the Trump administration for ongoing transportation issues have remained silent about the Biden administration’s handling of the outdated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its understaffed operations, which have contributed to dangerous travel conditions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has publicly accused Trump of damaging the FAA, particularly during a recent cancellation incident at Newark airport.
A comparison of aviation accidents during the early months of both the Biden and Trump administrations reveals a notable difference. In April, for instance, there were significantly fewer aviation accidents under Biden—115 on average—compared to 67 under Trump during the same month over his four years in office.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report from March indicated that the Trump administration took over an aging system from Biden that contained “severe flaws.” Duffy criticized Biden for neglecting air traffic control improvements, questioning the inaction during notable failures in the system.
After Trump returned to office, the GAO provided nine recommendations aimed at improving safety within the FAA, which it claimed was not prioritized during Biden’s tenure. Ongoing staffing issues have further hampered FAA operations. A June 2023 report from the Department of Transportation’s Inspector Office revealed that the FAA has “made limited efforts” to ensure adequate staffing at crucial air traffic control facilities.
The GAO determined that 20 out of 26 key facilities, or about 77%, fell below the FAA’s 85% staffing threshold, with even major locations like the New Yorker Terminal and Miami Tower performing poorly at 54% and 66%, respectively. Another report indicated that the FAA’s lengthy hiring processes and restrictions stemming from COVID-19 hindered onboarding and certification of new staff.
The repercussions of these issues are significant. Reports noted a rise in close calls between commercial jets, reaching a frequency not seen in the previous five years. In January 2023, the FAA had to issue nationwide ground stops due to outages in its aging air traffic control system—a historic pause reminiscent of post-9/11 scenarios.
In 2024, the GAO highlighted that nearly 40% of FAA control systems need urgent updates. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged these ongoing issues and criticized the Biden administration’s failure to invest in necessary upgrades while focusing on less critical matters.
On social media, GOP Senator Mike Lee criticized past FAA employment practices, suggesting that the agency’s recent hiring decisions have drifted away from prioritizing candidates with strong aviation backgrounds. Fox News Digital reached out for comments from Biden’s office and Jeffries regarding these assessments.
