Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has accused former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg of neglecting critical air traffic control issues and overemphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spending during his tenure, a move that Duffy claims is an attempt to rewrite his record in preparation for a potential presidential campaign. In an appearance on ‘Hannity,’ Duffy pointed to the 85 near misses in the Potomac before the DCA air crash, arguing that Buttigieg ‘did nothing’ about these safety concerns. ‘He spent $80 billion on DEI and on climate change,’ Duffy said, ‘and lowered the standards for training at the FAA. He focused on pronouns at the FAA, but never worked to fix the air traffic control system, didn’t work on bringing more air traffic controllers into the system, so what he’s trying to do is rewrite his record because he wants to run for president, but the truth is he barely showed up at the DOT,’ he added.
The accusations came after Buttigieg took to X to criticize President Trump’s recent call for air traffic controllers to return to work amid widespread flight disruptions. In a post, Buttigieg stated, ‘The president wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller,’ drawing sharp backlash from Duffy, who called the remark ‘no business s—-ing on them.’ This exchange has intensified the political tensions within the Democratic Party, as figures like Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez openly declare their ambitions for the 2028 presidential race. With the 2028 election looming, the competition for the Democratic nomination has become more visible, as candidates jockey for influence and visibility within the party. Analysts suggest that the feud between Duffy and Buttigieg reflects a broader struggle over policy priorities and the direction of the party’s platform, with air traffic control and DEI initiatives serving as symbolic battlegrounds in the ongoing political discourse.
As the Democratic Party continues to shape its presidential hopefuls, the criticism between Duffy and Buttigieg underscores the deepening divisions over the role of government in addressing social issues versus ensuring national infrastructure safety. The focus on DEI funding, training standards, and aviation safety is becoming a central theme in the upcoming political landscape, with candidates vying to position themselves as the most competent and ideologically aligned figures to lead the party in the upcoming decades. With the 2028 election on the horizon, the internal politics of the Democratic Party are expected to play a crucial role in determining the next American president, as key figures like Buttigieg, Newsom, and Ocasio-Cortez prepare to make their case for a national audience.