The next is the transcript of the interview with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 2, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, who joins us this morning from Far Hills, New Jersey. Welcome to Face The Nation.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY: Hey, thanks, Margaret, good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So our CBS polling exhibits that there’s actual concern amongst People concerning the impact of the shutdown on all transportation. Ought to People even have security issues at this level?
SEC. DUFFY: I feel that is a terrific query. We work extra time to verify the system is secure. And we are going to gradual site visitors down, you will see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to verify the system is secure. However we’ve got to be sincere, when we’ve got controllers, the place we’ve got shortages and towers and TRACONs doing two jobs, does it add extra danger into the system? Certain, it does. However once more, we’re all the time managing that. Once more, we don’t- we do not need crashes, we wish folks to go safely, and so we are going to gradual and cease site visitors if we do not assume we will handle it in a method that retains folks secure as they go from level A to level B.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I did see that the FAA stated, up in New York, 80% of air site visitors controllers have been absent from New York space airports, and that very same day, there was a close to miss at LaGuardia Airport. One United airplane clipped one other one. Was that pilot error? Or was that linked to some type of scarcity?
SEC. DUFFY: Properly, you talked about the shortages of air site visitors controllers within the New York airspace. We had a pair days in the past, three hour delays all through New York. And once more, I have never received the readout but on whether or not that was pilot error. And often, when these planes are- are touring very shut to one another, it is their job to keep away from each other. That is not controllers, it is often pilot error. However once more, I am going to must look and see what directive was given by the air site visitors controllers. But it surely’s usually the pilot’s accountability to keep away from plane on the tarmac.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So if this shutdown continues, how- when does it develop into an emergency when it comes to passenger security and the security of those that are attempting to, for instance, get dwelling for Thanksgiving in a number of weeks.
SEC. DUFFY: Properly, does it develop into a flight emergency, a security subject? No, we are going to cease site visitors. So we’re not going to let that occur. I feel the true consequence is, what sort of rolling delays do you might have all through the system, proper? We have seen issues at LA, in Dallas, in DC, Boston, Atlanta. And so I feel it is solely going to worsen. We’ve got controllers who, a few of them are new controllers. We’ve got trainee controllers who’re very useful within the tower. They do not make some huge cash, they usually’re now confronted, they have not had a paycheck for over a month. They’re confronted with a choice: do I put meals on my children’ desk, do I put fuel within the automobile, do I pay my hire or do I’m going to work and never receives a commission? They’re making selections. I’ve inspired all of them to return to work. I would like them to return to work, however they’re making life selections that they should not must make. Let’s open the federal government up. Let’s pay these folks, these younger controllers. Margaret, it is actually essential, I feel you’ve got lined this, we do not have the very best gear in our towers and facilities for air site visitors management. However we’ve got the most secure airspace, we’ve got essentially the most environment friendly airspace as a result of we’ve got the very best controllers on the planet that work our skies and preserve our folks secure. They deserve a paycheck.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, on condition that they’re so important, is there any method the administration can discover a pot of cash like appears to be getting discovered for others, just like the army, to pay controllers to allow them to present as much as work? Why is not the administration ready to try this?
SEC. DUFFY: Yeah, nicely, I feel that is a terrific query. So we’ve got achieved all we will. President Trump has achieved all he can to attenuate the ache of the shutdown on the American folks. Once more, you keep in mind beneath Barack Obama’s shutdown, he was attempting to gate off open air monuments in Washington, DC, and have been shutting down parks simply strolling paths. President Trump has tried to make it much less painful on the American folks. So we’re searching for pots of cash to pay important employees, however there’s actually strict guidelines round what cash we will use and the way we will use it, and we’ve got to observe the legislation. And so we have been in a position to fund a central air service, service to extra rural communities. We have stored our academy up and operating to this point. We do not have a ton of time, a pair extra weeks of that funding. However I haven’t got the assets to try this, and the straightforward reply is, vote to open the federal government, negotiate your variations. That is wonderful, that is honest. However once more, these folks ought to be paid. And to say that it is Donald Trump’s fault, to say he has to search out cash, when Democrats have stated there isn’t any cash for you as a result of we have shut the federal government down, I imply, that is a contorted evaluation. And Democrats are attempting to try this, and I do not assume it actually works. Give the cash and we’ll pay the controllers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, nicely, I noticed studies that air site visitors controllers solely acquired partial pay mid-October, and this previous week they missed a paycheck altogether. So virtually talking, for individuals who are in these jobs, would you advise them to select up half time work elsewhere?
SEC. DUFFY: No, I am clearly asking them, come to work. It’s your job to return to work, and ultimately you can be paid. However as I’ve traveled across the nation and talked to air site visitors controllers, they’ve advised me that plenty of them can navigate lacking one paycheck. None of them can handle lacking two paychecks. And so they’re like each American household, everybody watching your present as we speak as they give thought to their very own funds, what number of paychecks can they miss earlier than it turns into actual stress, actual strife of their life? And they also’re- at the- subsequent week, they’ll get a discover of what their subsequent paycheck goes to be. And if the federal government would not open, the discover will probably be one other huge fats zero, and you are going to see extra of them most likely make the choices of funding their households, placing meals on their desk, fuel of their vehicles, versus coming into work. That is not what I would like, however I am a realist as nicely, Margaret, these are the choices of life and survival that these controllers must make. By the best way, it is the technicians, additionally. We’ve got outdated gear. We’ve got technicians that work within the towers that preserve the gear operational. They don’t seem to be getting paid. I’ve practice inspectors who’re working to maintain our trains operating and operating safely. They’re working with out pay. I’ve pipeline inspectors, similar factor. Throughout the system. We’ve got a variety of people who find themselves working with out pay. We discuss concerning the air site visitors controllers, however I’ve 1000’s of workers who’re displaying up, doing the work and attempting to maintain this technique secure for the American folks all of the whereas they do not get paid to do it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. So that you stated again on Fox Enterprise on October 9 that “I am unable to have folks not displaying up for work and that they could be let go.” There is a scarcity of 4,000 controllers already. You are not firing folks, are you? You may’t afford to.
SEC. DUFFY: No, so when- we’re 2-3,000 controllers brief, however that is an enormous quantity. And also you make an fascinating level, as a result of I’ve tried to surge air site visitors controllers into the system by way of our academy. Margaret, we’re up 20% of controllers by way of the academy this 12 months alone. It takes them a couple of 12 months to 2 to get licensed in a tower, however this shutdown is impacting my pipeline of controllers. And so as- when everybody forgets about air site visitors management and the shutdown, I’ll cope with the results of, once more, delivering for the American folks and getting extra controllers within the towers, not much less. And also you deliver up a very good level. We’re already confused in that we do not have sufficient controllers in our system, and this shutdown, when we’ve got staffing triggers the place they are not coming in as a result of they’re funding their households and meals on their tables, that makes it tougher as a result of we’re already brief lengthy. Long run consequences–
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you are not going to fireside them?
SEC. DUFFY: I do not plan on firing management. No, pay attention, I’ve, no, I- once more after they’re making selections to feed their households, I am not going to fireside air site visitors controllers. I’ve, I’ve cherished them and supported them as they’re attempting to undergo this course of and it is difficult for them. They want assist, they want cash, they want a paycheck. They do not should be fired.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper. Secretary Duffy, thanks to your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
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