Transportation Sec Sean Duffy Tells Hillary Clinton to ‘Sit This One Out’ After Scathing Aviation Criticism

“And you’re going to let them mess with airline safety that’s already deteriorated on your watch?”

Duffy did not hold back in his response.

“Madam Secretary, with all due respect, ‘experienced’ Washington bureaucrats are the reason our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling. You need to sit this one out,” he replied.

Duffy’s rebuttal sent X users into a frenzy, with many praising his response.

Shots fired!! Sean Duffy putting failed Presidential wannabe Hilary Clinton in her place https://t.co/aI3aon6bzV

— Tennessee Bourbon (@TennesseeBourbn) February 6, 2025

Elon Musk, who is leading DOGE’s initiative to combat government inefficiency, voiced his support for the effort, emphasizing the need for rapid improvements.

“With the support of President @realDonaldTrump, the @DOGE team will aim to make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system. Just a few days ago, the FAA’s primary aircraft safety notification system failed for several hours!” he wrote.

With the support of President @realDonaldTrump, the @DOGE team will aim to make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system.

Just a few days ago, the FAA’s primary aircraft safety notification system failed for several hours!https://t.co/WHwNNBN0Zd https://t.co/fwOJ9BUBX5

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 5, 2025

Speaking at a conference of state transportation department officials, Duffy elaborated on his plans, including an upcoming surge of air traffic controllers.

“We’re gonna remake our airspace,” he said, according to The Epoch Times. “And we’re gonna do it quickly, and we have the support of the Congress, I think right now … we’re using like 1960s, World War II technology in much of the components of the airspace.”

“We’re gonna upgrade it.”

Duffy also revealed that he had spoken with Musk on Tuesday, calling him a “pretty remarkable guy” with access to “the best technological people, the best engineers in the world.” The secretary acknowledged that hiring and deploying new air traffic controllers is a lengthy process, noting that training them is not like “flippin’ a switch.”

The debate over aviation safety follows a series of deadly plane crashes. Last week, a Black Hawk military helicopter and an American Airlines jet collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people.

Additionally, a Learjet 55 medevac aircraft crashed in Philadelphia, claiming at least seven lives, according to Fox News. One of the victims was a young Mexican girl who had traveled to the U.S. for life-saving treatment and was heading back home to Mexico.

President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the situation, voicing his frustration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Trump suggested that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies contributed to the deadly crash in Washington, D.C., which gained traction on X after it was revealed that the pilot of the military helicopter was Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, a 28-year-old Army officer and a former aide to former President Joe Biden.