In a Truth Social rant on Thursday, President Donald Trump blamed former President Joe Biden's administration for the air traffic issue facing the nation. Folks aren't buying it, however.
As Newark airport deals with an air traffic controller crisis in New Jersey, Trump claimed that somehow it was Biden's fault.
“Where Is Secretary Duffy?” That’s the question circulating on social media as the nation’s air transportation system unravels—plagued by mounting failures under the Trump administration and its Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy.
Air traffic controllers are in short supply across the United States due to the stressful nature of the job and the requirement that they retire by age 56 — with many opting to take early retirement when presented with the opportunity. Lately, the Department of Transportation has offered air traffic controllers financial incentives if they forgo early retirement and work up until their mandatory retirement age.
While ATC hasn't been explicitly cut, top leaders in the FAA are fleeing as part of Trump's staff and budget cuts, the Washington Post reported Thursday morning.
The fact that Trump was blaming Biden led to criticism.
Comedian and self-described "best Christian" in America, Mrs. Betty Bowers took to Bluesky to say, "Donald 'No Responsibility' Trump is trying to blame Biden and Pete Buttigieg for current air traffic control problems. Meanwhile, back in the real world . . . Republicans in Congress REFUSED Buttigieg’s call for funding more air traffic controllers. And Trump/DOGE then stepped in and fired many."
Radio Matt McNeil's show posted, "Trump PROUDLY fired most of the air traffic controllers. It was one of the first things he did in office. IMMEDIATELY, airline safety and logistics plummeted. Trump did this. But Trump now knows most of his followers will now scream about Biden."
"The Trump administration has begun firing several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees, upending staff on a busy air travel weekend and just weeks after a January fatal mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport," PBS reported on Feb. 17.
Senior editor James F. Love IV posted a thread walking through a fact-check.
"Pete Buttigieg, as Secretary of Transportation, sounded the alarm on the shortage of Air Traffic Control Towers nationwide. He ordered the hiring of 3,000 new Air Traffic Controllers," he said, linking to a 2023 CNN report.
"He and President Biden worked to upgrade Air Traffic Control computer systems," said Love before citing Buttigieg from 2022. "Secretary Pete Buttigieg: 'The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will repair, replace and modernize the infrastructure that our air traffic control system…'"
"President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $25 billion over five years for airport and air traffic control infrastructure improvements. Trump’s Executive Orders stopped funding," Love added, linking to the Jan. 8, 2025 announcement from the then-Biden White House.
Polito columnist Jonathan Martin said, "More notable for not even trying to spell Buttigieg, tbh."
