Transportation Chief Duffy Assures Safe Christmas Flights Amid Staffing Challenges
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down safety concerns, flight disruptions, and the administration’s push to modernize air traffic control as China accelerates its drone and space ambitions.
As millions of Americans prepare for the Christmas travel rush, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reassures the public that it will be “safe to fly.” This statement comes amid warnings from the nation’s top aviation regulator about ongoing staffing shortages in U.S. air traffic control towers.
Duffy emphasized the importance of safety during a recent interview with FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo. He stated, “You saw that as we were getting into the last days of the shutdown, we reduced the capacity of airlines by 10% because we saw the trend lines going in the wrong direction. We will take whatever steps are necessary to make sure the airspace is safe.” He added, “As we look to the Christmas season, yes, it’s going to be safe to fly. I just hope that people pack their best attitudes and best spirits as they go to the airport and on the airplane.”
MILLIONS DITCH AIRPORTS FOR OPEN ROADS AS R.V. TRAVEL SURGES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Duffy’s optimistic outlook follows a stark warning from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Bryan Bedford. During a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing, Bedford stated that U.S. air traffic control towers are unlikely to ever reach full staffing levels if current operational practices continue. “The honest answer, sir, is, if we continue with business as usual, never,” he said in response to a question from Rep. Hank Johnson Jr., D-Ga.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy speaks at a conference discussing the launch of the “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” campaign at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 8, 2025 (Getty Images)
In response to these staffing challenges, Duffy revealed plans to increase the capacity of the federal air traffic control training school by 20%. This initiative aims to address the employment deficit over time. “We have a project manager that’s going to build our new air traffic control system,” Duffy explained. “We realized that after 20 years of trying to upgrade the system, the FAA, they’re great at safety, they’re not great at building things. And so we’re going to bring in an outside contractor to do the work for us to help us manage this massive project.”
‘The Big Money Show’ reacts to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the White House $1B plan to make airports ‘healthy’ with better food, family spaces, and terminal micro-gyms.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation is incentivizing air traffic controllers nearing retirement with a 20% upfront cash bonus to encourage them to remain in their positions. “We’re looking at every angle to keep more controllers in our towers, to make sure we control the airspace,” Duffy stated. He noted the significant delays experienced during the recent shutdown when staffing levels dropped.
As AAA reports that over 122 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday season, Duffy remains optimistic about ensuring smooth operations. “Controllers are back in the towers, we’re ready for Christmas. And again, we’re still short, but we are fixing that.”
Fox News’ Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to break down safety concerns, flight disruptions, and the administration’s push to modernize air traffic control as China accelerates its drone and space ambitions.
As millions of Americans prepare for the Christmas travel rush, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reassures the public that it will be “safe to fly.” This statement comes amid warnings from the nation’s top aviation regulator about ongoing staffing shortages in U.S. air traffic control towers.
Duffy emphasized the importance of safety during a recent interview with FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo. He stated, “You saw that as we were getting into the last days of the shutdown, we reduced the capacity of airlines by 10% because we saw the trend lines going in the wrong direction. We will take whatever steps are necessary to make sure the airspace is safe.” He added, “As we look to the Christmas season, yes, it’s going to be safe to fly. I just hope that people pack their best attitudes and best spirits as they go to the airport and on the airplane.”
MILLIONS DITCH AIRPORTS FOR OPEN ROADS AS R.V. TRAVEL SURGES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Duffy’s optimistic outlook follows a stark warning from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Bryan Bedford. During a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing, Bedford stated that U.S. air traffic control towers are unlikely to ever reach full staffing levels if current operational practices continue. “The honest answer, sir, is, if we continue with business as usual, never,” he said in response to a question from Rep. Hank Johnson Jr., D-Ga.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy speaks at a conference discussing the launch of the “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” campaign at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 8, 2025 (Getty Images)
In response to these staffing challenges, Duffy revealed plans to increase the capacity of the federal air traffic control training school by 20%. This initiative aims to address the employment deficit over time. “We have a project manager that’s going to build our new air traffic control system,” Duffy explained. “We realized that after 20 years of trying to upgrade the system, the FAA, they’re great at safety, they’re not great at building things. And so we’re going to bring in an outside contractor to do the work for us to help us manage this massive project.”
‘The Big Money Show’ reacts to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the White House $1B plan to make airports ‘healthy’ with better food, family spaces, and terminal micro-gyms.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation is incentivizing air traffic controllers nearing retirement with a 20% upfront cash bonus to encourage them to remain in their positions. “We’re looking at every angle to keep more controllers in our towers, to make sure we control the airspace,” Duffy stated. He noted the significant delays experienced during the recent shutdown when staffing levels dropped.
As AAA reports that over 122 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday season, Duffy remains optimistic about ensuring smooth operations. “Controllers are back in the towers, we’re ready for Christmas. And again, we’re still short, but we are fixing that.”
Fox News’ Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
