Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg failed to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic control systems during his tenure, opting instead to direct tens of billions in funding toward a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda, according to federal spending records and airline industry insiders.
In one meeting with industry executives, Buttigieg—who is reportedly considering a 2028 presidential bid—dismissed the importance of air traffic control upgrades, allegedly saying they would only enable airlines to operate more flights, and questioned, “so why would that be in his interest?” according to sources who spoke exclusively with the New York Post.
What the Department of Transportation focused on instead, records show, was distributing over $80 billion in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) grants over four years—an amount equal to at least half of the agency’s typical annual budget, the outlet reported.
“He was definitely pushing an agenda,” an air industry official told The Post, noting the transportation secretary had “little to no interest” and took “definitely zero action” toward air traffic control modernization.
While serving in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, Pete Buttigieg spent much of his time blaming airlines for delays and “vilifying” the industry, according to sources who spoke to The Post. At the same time, he dismissed concerns that his department’s DEI agenda contributed to air traffic control staffing shortages or that it was neglecting a critical safety system that hasn’t seen major upgrades since the Carter era.
Insiders told The Post that the flying public paid the price. “At first, [the Department of Transportation] and he were reluctant to say there was an air traffic controller shortage or that the shortage had anything to do with flight delays or flight cancellations,” the air industry official said.
Between January 2021 and 2025, nearly 80% of flights arrived on time. Of the delays, about 7% were caused by air carriers, another 7% by late-arriving aircraft, and 5% were attributed to issues within the aviation system. Less than 1% of delays were due to weather, the outlet reported.
Airline industry officials acknowledged that carrier-related delays remained an issue in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they noted that much of the funding from the infrastructure law—approximately $3.5 billion annually—was directed toward maintenance of existing facilities and equipment, rather than true modernization efforts, noted The Post.
In an urgent letter sent to Pete Buttigieg’s Department of Transportation in April 2024, airline industry trade groups warned that, at the current hiring pace, it could take up to 90 years for the FAA to reach target staffing levels at key air traffic control centers in New York.
Meanwhile, the department’s priorities under Buttigieg had shifted significantly, with approximately 400 DEI-related grants approved between 2021 and 2024, according to a review of federal spending during that period, said The Post.
