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 People concerning the impact of the shutdown on all transportation. Ought to People even have security considerations at this level?
SEC. DUFFY: I feel that is an incredible query. We work extra time to ensure the system is secure. And we’ll sluggish visitors down, you will see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to ensure the system is secure. However we have now to be trustworthy, when we have now controllers, the place we have now shortages and towers and TRACONs doing two jobs, does it add extra threat into the system? Certain, 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 folks to go safely, and so we’ll sluggish and cease visitors if we do not assume we are able to handle it in a method that retains folks secure as they go from level A to level B.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, I did see that the FAA mentioned, up in New York, 80% of air 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 airplane clipped one other one. Was that pilot error? Or was that linked to some type of scarcity?
SEC. DUFFY: Nicely, you talked about the shortages of air 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 not obtained 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 avoid each other. That is not controllers, it is normally pilot error. However once more, I will must look and see what directive was given by the air visitors controllers. However it’s usually the pilot’s duty to avoid plane on the tarmac.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So if this shutdown continues, how- when does it turn out to be an emergency when it comes to passenger security and the security of those that are attempting to, for instance, get residence for Thanksgiving in just a few weeks.
SEC. DUFFY: Nicely, does it turn out to be a flight emergency, a security problem? No, we’ll cease visitors. So we’re not going to let that occur. I feel the true consequence is, what sort of rolling delays do you’ve gotten 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. Now we have controllers who, a few of them are new controllers. Now we have trainee controllers who’re very useful within the tower. They do not make some huge cash, they usually’re now confronted, they have not had a paycheck for over a month. They’re confronted with a call: do I put meals on my youngsters’ desk, do I put fuel within the automotive, do I pay my hire or do I am going to work and never receives a commission? They’re making choices. I’ve inspired all of them to return to work. I need them to return to work, however they’re making life choices that they should not must make. Let’s open the federal government up. Let’s pay these folks, these younger controllers. Margaret, it is actually essential, I feel you’ve got coated this, we do not have one of the best gear in our towers and facilities for air visitors management. However we have now the most secure airspace, we have now probably the most environment friendly airspace as a result of we have now one of the best controllers on the earth that work our skies and maintain our folks secure. They deserve a paycheck.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, on condition that they’re so important, is there any method 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, nicely, I feel that is an incredible query. So we have now completed all we are able to. President Trump has completed all he can to reduce the ache of the shutdown on the American folks. Once more, you bear in mind underneath 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 folks. So we’re in search of 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 we have now to observe the regulation. And so we had been in a position to fund a central air service, service to extra rural communities. We have stored our academy up and operating 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 fantastic, that is honest. However once more, these folks ought to be paid. And to say that it is Donald Trump’s fault, to say he has to search out cash, when Democrats have mentioned 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 assume it actually works. Give the cash and we’ll pay the controllers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, nicely, I noticed reviews that air visitors controllers solely acquired 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 select 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’ll be paid. However as I’ve traveled across the nation and talked to air visitors controllers, they’ve instructed me that a number 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 give thought to 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 are going to 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 huge 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, fuel of their automobiles, versus coming into work. That is not what I need, however I am a realist as nicely, Margaret, these are the choices of life and survival that these controllers must make. By the best way, it is the technicians, additionally. Now we have previous gear. Now we have technicians that work within the towers that maintain the gear operational. They don’t seem to be getting paid. I’ve practice inspectors who’re working to maintain our trains operating and operating safely. They’re working with out pay. I’ve pipeline inspectors, similar factor. Throughout the system. Now we have quite a few people who find themselves working with out pay. We speak concerning the air visitors controllers, however I’ve hundreds of staff who’re displaying up, doing the work and making an attempt to maintain this technique secure for the American folks all of the whereas they do not get paid to do it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. So that you mentioned again on Fox Enterprise on October 9 that “I am unable to have folks not displaying up for work and that they could be let go.” There is a scarcity of 4,000 controllers already. You are not firing folks, are you? You possibly can’t afford to.
SEC. DUFFY: No, so when- we’re 2-3,000 controllers brief, however that is an enormous quantity. And also you make an attention-grabbing level, as a result of I’ve tried to surge air visitors controllers into the system by our academy. Margaret, we’re up 20% of controllers by the academy this yr alone. It takes them a few yr 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 visitors management and the shutdown, I will take care of the results of, once more, delivering for the American folks and getting extra controllers within the towers, not much less. And also you convey up a very good level. We’re already pressured in that we do not have sufficient controllers in our system, and this shutdown, when we have now staffing triggers the place they are not coming in as a result of they’re funding their households and meals on their tables, that makes it tougher as a result of we’re already brief 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 choices to feed their households, I am not going to fireside air visitors controllers. I’ve, I’ve liked 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 should be fired.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper. Secretary Duffy, thanks on your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
