Sean Duffy Breaks Down Why FAA’s Shutdown Decision Isn’t Political

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pushed back Sunday against accusations the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to scale back the availability of flights as the shutdown of the federal government persists was politically driven.

The Trump administration is moving to gradually scale back air traffic nationwide — beginning with a 4% reduction Friday, 6% by Tuesday, and 10% by Nov. 14 — as unpaid FAA personnel struggle to maintain operations with no end to the shutdown in sight. During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Duffy said his team based its decision on recent data showing a surge in near-miss incidents, ground incursions, and pilot complaints about stressed and unresponsive air traffic controllers.

“They did look at the data that we had near misses between helicopters and cross-wing airplanes. And had they looked at the data, they would have taken those helicopters out of the river. And I’m looking at data with the safety team,” Duffy told host Jake Tapper. “I didn’t tell the safety team to bring this recommendation to me; they actually saw it and they brought it to us. So we have loss of separation in the airspace.”

Duffy said the FAA’s safety team raised concerns after internal data showed rising safety lapses.

“I have more complaints coming into the FAA from pilots who are saying that air traffic controllers are not as responsive,” Duffy added. “They seem stressed. Or they’re not using the appropriate language because they’re under pressure. So I look at that data that came from the safety team and the trend line is going in the wrong direction.”

Duffy dismissed suggestions the slowdown was meant to pressure Democrats, but insisted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was the one politicizing the shutdown.