Duffy blasts Buttigieg: ‘Mayor Pete failed for 4 years’

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently criticized former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for what he described as “mismanagement” during Buttigieg’s tenure. The exchange occurred when Buttigieg raised concerns about the firing of FAA personnel in a social media post, prompting Duffy to respond with a scathing rebuke.

Duffy accused Buttigieg of neglecting to address the air traffic controller shortage and failing to upgrade the outdated air traffic control system during his four-year term. He claimed that within just four weeks of taking office, his administration had already initiated steps to address these issues and had engaged experts from around the world to help improve the system.

Before serving as Transportation Secretary, Buttigieg was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Duffy went on to criticize Buttigieg for allegedly using the Department of Transportation as a platform for what he called “green new scam and environmental justice nonsense.” He also claimed that over 90% of the workforce under Buttigieg’s leadership worked remotely, leaving the department’s headquarters empty.

In response, Buttigieg challenged Duffy’s claims, particularly regarding the telework rates of FAA personnel and the importance of those who were let go. The two officials continued to exchange criticisms, with Duffy suggesting that a full investigation into Buttigieg’s management would reveal more concerning details.

The heated exchange between the current and former Transportation Secretaries highlighted the ongoing tensions within the transportation sector. Duffy also announced that SpaceX engineers would be visiting the Air Traffic Control System Command Center to help improve air travel safety, a move that was supported by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

The safety of air travel was emphasized as a non-partisan issue, with the involvement of SpaceX engineers seen as a positive step towards enhancing safety measures. The exchange between Duffy and Buttigieg underscored the challenges facing the transportation industry and the importance of effective leadership in addressing these issues.

Overall, the contentious interaction between the two officials shed light on the complexities of managing transportation infrastructure and the need for continued collaboration and innovation to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel.