Musk's SpaceX Team Visits FAA to Suggest Improvements

THE NEWS

In the wake of a deadly collision between a helicopter and a regional jet at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., SpaceX employees plan to visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic Control command center to propose safety improvements.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the visit, stressing that SpaceX will get a “firsthand look” at the current system to help design “a new, better, modern and safer system.”

TIMELINE

• Early 2025:A deadly helicopter-regional jet collision at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., puts a spotlight on air traffic safety.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces plans to upgrade the aviation system, with DOGE “plugging in” to help.

• Mid-February 2025:The Trump administration begins firing probationary FAA employees responsible for maintaining air traffic control systems, citing broad efficiency measures.David Spero, president of the union representing FAA and Defense Department employees, condemns the firings, claiming it stretches an already thin workforce.

• Monday:SpaceX engineers schedule a visit to the FAA’s Air Traffic Control command center to offer input on modernization and safety improvements.Duffy confirms SpaceX “regularly tours” FAA facilities alongside other companies, noting it is standard practice.

REACTIONS

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:

• Welcomed SpaceX’s visit, saying the aim is to learn from controllers and “envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system.”

• Asserted that granting tours to private companies is not unusual, attempting to dispel concerns about “special access.”

Elon Musk (DOGE / SpaceX):

• Classified as a “special government employee,” raising conflict-of-interest questions due to SpaceX’s federal contracts.

• Called air travel safety a “non-partisan matter” and affirmed his team’s dedication to improving the system.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.):

• Voiced concerns that Musk’s role could create conflicts of interest: “It is a conflict of interest for someone whose company is regulated by the federal government to be involved in anything that affects his personal financial interest.

David Spero (PASS Union President):

• Decried the firing of “several hundred” FAA workers from “an ‘exec order’ Microsoft email address,” calling it “draconian” and likely to exacerbate safety risks.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg:

• Questioned the firings on BlueSky, demanding more transparency about how many FAA personnel were terminated and why.

Department of Transportation (DOT) Spokesperson:

• Said the FAA continues to hire air traffic controllers and safety professionals despite the recent cuts, emphasizing “safety-critical functions” remain staffed.

WHAT'S NEXT

Duffy plans to soon announce steps to surge more air traffic control training and applicants and will visit the FAA Academy in Oklahoma this week to meet air traffic controller instructors and students.