Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has accused the Biden administration of neglecting warnings about the condition of the nation's air traffic control system. He pointed to a government report that he says detailed failures within the system before recent disruptions.
Duffy shared an excerpt from a September 24, 2024, report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) titled "Air Traffic Control: FAA Actions Are Urgently Needed to Modernize Aging Systems." The report noted that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been slow to update older systems.
"A government watchdog warned Biden & Buttigieg about the failing air traffic control system," Duffy wrote in a post online. "Look at this report. They knew the air traffic control system was strained AND STILL DID NOTHING!"
The GAO report stated that as of May 2024, 17 FAA systems were identified as concerning based on their age, sustainability ratings, and impact on operations. These systems ranged in age up to 50 years old and were deemed unsustainable, though considered important to air space safety and efficiency. The agency has also said more than 75 percent of the FAA’s 138 systems were assessed as "unsustainable" or "potentially unsustainable" in a recent review.
The comments by Sean Duffy follow recent travel disruptions, including significant delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport. Controllers guiding planes near the airport briefly lost radar and radio contact last week, according to officials.
Problems with outdated equipment have compounded issues related to a national shortage of air traffic controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), told lawmakers in March that controller staffing and infrastructure progress are related. He stated controllers require training on new technology and modernization programs.
Daniels also testified that controllers often work extended hours using older equipment and in facilities that have not been updated in decades. He noted that frequent equipment outages can add stress for controllers.
The GAO report indicated completion dates for planned investments in concerning systems were several years away, with some systems having no associated investment plans. Daniels said the FAA's annual funding request for facilities and equipment has forced the agency into a approach that prioritizes required costs over modernization.
Duffy stated he is developing a plan to build an updated ATC system. He said he is working with President Donald Trump on the effort.
"They knew we had an old system," Duffy said. "They saw the GAO report saying it was about to fail."