Andrew Tangel

Last year, the Government Accountability Office issued a report and said basically about three quarters of the FAA's air traffic systems were either obsolete or too difficult to reliably maintain. The price tag really isn't clear for how much this broad overhaul might cost, but there are estimates within the industry and the government that

Last year, the Government Accountability Office issued a report and said basically about three quarters of the FAA's air traffic systems were either obsolete or too difficult to reliably maintain. The price tag really isn't clear for how much this broad overhaul might cost, but there are estimates within the industry and the government that

put the costs somewhere between $20 billion and $40 billion.

put the costs somewhere between $20 billion and $40 billion.

Trump's transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, has made this a top priority. He wants a new state-of-the-art, envy-of-the-world air traffic control system. He knows it's going to be expensive, difficult to pull off in a short time frame, especially how he's going to pay for it, how it's going to work. All these other questions are important.

Trump's transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, has made this a top priority. He wants a new state-of-the-art, envy-of-the-world air traffic control system. He knows it's going to be expensive, difficult to pull off in a short time frame, especially how he's going to pay for it, how it's going to work. All these other questions are important.

To be determined, the funding question is what has hobbled the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation over the years. He says he's got Trump's enthusiastic backing to do something big and bold and transformational for the system and can set it up for success where others have failed in the past.

To be determined, the funding question is what has hobbled the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation over the years. He says he's got Trump's enthusiastic backing to do something big and bold and transformational for the system and can set it up for success where others have failed in the past.

The federal government has been cutting costs and cutting its workforce, but not the air traffic control organization. They have exempted air traffic controllers from workforce cuts and early retirement programs. They are trying to quote unquote surge hiring and try to retain the air traffic controllers, keep them from retiring by offering them bonuses.

The federal government has been cutting costs and cutting its workforce, but not the air traffic control organization. They have exempted air traffic controllers from workforce cuts and early retirement programs. They are trying to quote unquote surge hiring and try to retain the air traffic controllers, keep them from retiring by offering them bonuses.

So it is a question about whether or not this administration that is focused on slimming down in many ways can beef up a very anemic and neglected system that everyone seems to think is long overdue for an overhaul.

So it is a question about whether or not this administration that is focused on slimming down in many ways can beef up a very anemic and neglected system that everyone seems to think is long overdue for an overhaul.

Thanks for having me.

Thanks for having me.

Plus, President Trump decides to refurbish a Qatari airplane, frustrated by Boeing's delays in delivering a new Air Force One.

Plus, President Trump decides to refurbish a Qatari airplane, frustrated by Boeing's delays in delivering a new Air Force One.

No, I wouldn't see it as a promotion, but it's certainly a serious game of musical chairs over here at the White House. Just after we were hearing rumblings that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was going to be ousted, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he was actually just being moved into an empty seat. And that would be the U.N.

No, I wouldn't see it as a promotion, but it's certainly a serious game of musical chairs over here at the White House. Just after we were hearing rumblings that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was going to be ousted, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he was actually just being moved into an empty seat. And that would be the U.N.

ambassador that was going to be held by Elise Stefanik until she was asked to come back to her role as a member of Congress because of the tight margins there in the House.

ambassador that was going to be held by Elise Stefanik until she was asked to come back to her role as a member of Congress because of the tight margins there in the House.