The nationwide ground stop issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday afternoon spilled into partisan politics throughout Saturday.
Multiple Democratic lawmakers took aim at the Trump administration after thousands of flights were canceled on Friday night and throughout Saturday. After appearing at an initial press conference alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Friday night, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday an equipment malfunction due to old technology was to blame for the issuance.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said Duffy should resign or be replaced by President Donald Trump. She also said, “Congress must launch a full investigation to determine what went wrong and ensure it never happens again.”
Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) similarly took aim at the Trump administration, saying “the American people deserve an effective, competent federal government.” Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also opened remarks at an event on Friday evening by ridiculing the situation.
“Instead of investing in vanity projects like the ballroom, Trump and Secretary Duffy should prioritize modernizing our air traffic control system,” Sherrill said.
The White House addressed the controversy itself on Saturday, saying that under former President Joe Biden, the FAA was focused on “inclusive language” and did “absolutely nothing to address the problems plaguing [air traffic control].” It posted a clip of then-Senator and current Vice President JD Vance asking the then FAA administrator about an “Inclusive Language Summit” that featured discussions of getting rid of the term “airman.” Trump himself has not commented on the controversy as of Saturday night.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) addressed calls to provide additional funding for air traffic control infrastructure in an interview earlier Saturday, saying he was working on an “aggressive legislation package” for what is a “very important investment.”
JOHNSON BACKS DUFFY DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AVIATION UPGRADES
Friday’s ground stop was the country’s longest in 25 years. It was finally lifted shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday night.
Travelers with plans to fly on Sunday should expect that U.S. air travel will “be back to normal by the end of Sunday,” according to Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford, who spoke with reporters in the nation’s capital on Saturday. “The worst is behind us,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
