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 reveals that there’s actual concern amongst Individuals relating to the impact of the shutdown on all transportation. Ought to Individuals even have security considerations at this level?
SEC. DUFFY: I feel that is an important query. We work extra time to verify the system is secure. And we’ll sluggish site visitors down, you will see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to verify the system is secure. However now we have to be trustworthy, when now we have controllers, the place now we have shortages and towers and TRACONs doing two jobs, does it add extra threat into the system? Positive, it does. However once more, we’re at all times managing that. Once more, we don’t- we do not need crashes, we would like individuals to go safely, and so we’ll sluggish and cease site visitors if we do not suppose we are able to handle it in a manner that retains individuals 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 had been absent from New York space airports, and that very same day, there was a close to miss at LaGuardia Airport. One United aircraft clipped one other one. Was that pilot error? Or was that linked to some sort 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 normally, 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 normally pilot error. However once more, I am going to need to look and see what directive was given by the air site visitors controllers. But it surely’s usually the pilot’s duty 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 protection of those that are attempting to, for instance, get residence for Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks.
SEC. DUFFY: Properly, does it develop into a flight emergency, a security difficulty? No, we’ll 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 may 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, and so they’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 youngsters’ desk, do I put gasoline within the automotive, do I pay my lease 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 need them to return to work, however they’re making life selections that they should not need to make. Let’s open the federal government up. Let’s pay these individuals, these younger controllers. Margaret, it is actually necessary, I feel you’ve got lined this, we do not have one of the best tools in our towers and facilities for air site visitors management. However now we have the most secure airspace, now we have essentially the most environment friendly airspace as a result of now we have one of the best controllers on this planet that work our skies and maintain our individuals secure. They deserve a paycheck.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, provided that they’re so important, is there any manner 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 do this?
SEC. DUFFY: Yeah, effectively, I feel that is an important query. So now we have performed all we are able to. President Trump has performed all he can to attenuate the ache of the shutdown on the American individuals. Once more, you bear in mind beneath Barack Obama’s shutdown, he was making an attempt to gate off open air monuments in Washington, DC, and had been shutting down parks simply strolling paths. President Trump has tried to make it much less painful on the American individuals. So we’re searching for pots of cash to pay important employees, however there’s actually strict guidelines round what cash we are able to use and the way we are able to use it, and now we have to comply with the legislation. And so we had been in a position to fund a central air service, service to extra rural communities. We have saved our academy up and working to date. We do not have a ton of time, a pair extra weeks of that funding. However I haven’t got the sources to do this, and the easy reply is, vote to open the federal government, negotiate your variations. That is positive, that is truthful. However once more, these individuals must 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 is not 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 do this, and I do not suppose it actually works. Give the cash and we’ll pay the controllers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, effectively, I noticed studies that air site visitors controllers solely obtained partial pay mid-October, and this previous week they missed a paycheck altogether. So virtually talking, for many who are in these jobs, would you advise them to choose 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 finally you may be paid. However as I’ve traveled across the nation and talked to air site visitors controllers, they’ve informed me that lots of them can navigate lacking one paycheck. None of them can handle lacking two paychecks. They usually’re like each American household, everybody watching your present at the moment as they consider 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 will get a discover of what their subsequent paycheck goes to be. And if the federal government would not open, the discover might be one other large fats zero, and you are going to see extra of them in all probability make the choices of funding their households, placing meals on their desk, gasoline of their automobiles, versus coming into work. That is not what I need, however I am a realist as effectively, Margaret, these are the choices of life and survival that these controllers need to make. By the way in which, it is the technicians, additionally. We’ve got outdated tools. We’ve got technicians that work within the towers that maintain the tools operational. They don’t seem to be getting paid. I’ve prepare inspectors who’re working to maintain our trains working and working safely. They’re working with out pay. I’ve pipeline inspectors, identical factor. Throughout the system. We’ve got quite a lot 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 exhibiting up, doing the work and making an attempt to maintain this technique secure for the American individuals 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 can not have individuals not exhibiting up for work and that they might be let go.” There is a scarcity of 4,000 controllers already. You are not firing individuals, are you? You may’t afford to.
SEC. DUFFY: No, so when- we’re 2-3,000 controllers quick, 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 means of our academy. Margaret, we’re up 20% of controllers by means 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 will cope with the implications of, once more, delivering for the American individuals and getting extra controllers within the towers, not much less. And also you deliver up a very good level. We’re already burdened in that we do not have sufficient controllers in our system, and this shutdown, when now we have staffing triggers the place they don’t seem to be coming in as a result of they’re funding their households and meals on their tables, that makes it harder as a result of we’re already quick 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 once they’re making selections to feed their households, I am not going to fireside air site visitors controllers. I’ve, I’ve beloved them and supported them as they’re making an attempt to undergo this course of and it is difficult for them. They want assist, they want cash, they want a paycheck. They do not have to be fired.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper. Secretary Duffy, thanks on your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
