Reported Fetterman outburst at meeting reopens questions about Pennsylvania Dem’s fitness for office
An alleged outburst by Sen. John Fetterman is reopening concerns about whether the Pennsylvania Democrat is still fit for office after suffering a stroke several years ago. Fetterman, a 55-year-old Democrat perhaps best known for his distinctive habit of almost always wearing gym shorts and a hoodie, suffered a stroke in 2022 and was later admitted to Walter Reed Hospital for depression for six weeks shortly after taking office. The Associated Press reported this week that during a meeting with teachers’ union members from his state, Fetterman became agitated, began repeating himself, shouting and yelling: “Everybody is mad at me” and “Why does everyone hate me, what did I ever do?” He also reportedly slammed his hands on a desk during the outburst. The outlet reported that Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) President Aaron Chapin was present at the meeting. Neither PSEA nor Chapin responded to Fox News Digital’s request to confirm or deny the incident. FETTERMAN SLAMS ‘DUMB HIT PIECE’ ABOUT HEALTH, SAYS IT FELT LIKE BEING ‘IN GOODFELLAS’ According to the AP, an aide cut off the meeting, ushered the visitors out and proceeded to break down crying. The outburst came shortly before New York Magazine published a story detailing concerns about his mental health from several current and former staffers. The magazine reported that staffers “paint a picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for and whose mental-health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported.” The article extensively cites testimony from Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s former chief of staff, who voiced a plethora of concerning behavior, including “conspiratorial thinking; megalomania” and “high highs and low lows; long, rambling, repetitive and self centered monologues; lying in ways that are painfully, awkwardly obvious to everyone in the room.” The article’s author went on to state that many of the staffers are not only worried about his fitness as a senator but also that “he may present a risk to the Democratic Party and maybe even to himself.” LIBERALS WHO RALLIED BEHIND FETTERMAN POST-STROKE IN 2022 TURN ON PRO-ISRAEL SENATOR AFTER NY MAGAZINE REPORT In response to the AP report, Fetterman’s office sent Fox News Digital several comments from the senator in which he neither confirmed nor denied the outburst but instead, said: “Here’s what is true: We had a spirited conversation about our collective frustration with the Trump administration’s cuts to our education system.” The senator said: “As a proud product of PSEA, I will always support our teachers, and I will always reject anyone’s attempt to turn Pennsylvania’s public schools into a voucher program.” In reference to the New York Magazine article, Fetterman dismissed the concerns as “just disgruntled former staffers peddling lies and half-truths under the guise of ‘concern.’” BILL MAHER SAYS WOKE REALITY TV MOMENT EXPLAINS HOW DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL BLOW NEXT ELECTION Fetterman said that “if those were genuine concerns, they’d pick up the phone and call me, not the press,” adding, “My ACTUAL doctors and my family affirmed that I’m very well.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The senator has previously labeled the magazine’s report “a dumb hit piece,” saying: “We’ve all moved on.”
Trump congratulates Pope Leo XIV, calls his election ‘a great honor’ for the United States
President Donald Trump congratulated the new Pope Leo XIV after he was selected Thursday, noting it is “a great honor” for the United States that an American-born cardinal was selected to be Francis’ successor. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform shortly after white smoke emerged from the Vatican indicating the conclave had come to a decision on who will lead the Catholic Church. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” PAPAL CONCLAVE: EVENTUAL NEW POPE’S CHOSEN NAME MAY SIGNAL WHAT’S AHEAD Trump added to reporters at the White House that he was “a little bit surprised” by the selection of Cardinal Prevost, but reiterated multiple times what an honor the selection was for America. “What greater honor could there be?” Trump posited to reporters. He also told them that the administration has already been in touch with the Vatican and expects to have the president visit the new pope in the future. It was not made clear how soon that meeting might take place. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, also congratulated the new pope on his selection Thursday. NY BISHOP SAYS POPE LEO XIV’S BACKGROUND WILL BE ‘INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL’ “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election!” Vance said on X. “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!” Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago and prior to his papal appointment he served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, which advises the pope on bishop appointments across the globe. In addition to Prevost, New York City Cardinal Timothy Dolan was also floated as a potential successor to Francis. In his first address, Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to live as missionaries and stressed that he hopes to be a builder of peace during his papacy. The new pope also asked Catholics to assist him in bringing peace to “all peoples,” and participating in dialogue and “building bridges.”
Acting FEMA administrator out after pushing back against Trump agency plans
The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is no longer with the agency – just a day after telling lawmakers that cutting FEMA, as President Donald Trump has proposed, is a bad move. Cameron Hamilton, who previously served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 8, has led FEMA since January. “Effective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator,” a FEMA spokesperson said in a Thursday email to Fox News Digital. “Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity.” ‘FEMA IS NOT GOOD’: TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski requested Hamilton appear at Homeland Security headquarters Thursday morning and informed him of his ouster, Politico reported. While Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have voiced support for eradicating FEMA, Hamilton cautioned Wednesday against eliminating the agency. “I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton told lawmakers on the House Committee on Appropriations. Days after his inauguration in January, Trump visited North Carolina to oversee the state’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. On the trip, Trump floated plans to gut FEMA, which oversaw the disaster relief efforts. “I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina. “I think, frankly, FEMA is not good.”
GOP senators: Congress should vote on Trump’s potential Iran nuclear deal
A pair of hawkish, Trump-supporting Senate Republicans say that any “lasting” Iran nuclear deal would need to be approved by Congress, ideally through a two-thirds majority treaty vote. But scoring a two-thirds majority in the Senate for treaty ratification would require Iran to fulfill a series of steep demands. In addition to getting rid of all of its enriched uranium and centrifuges, GOP lawmakers say it would need to dismantle its ballistic missile program and cease all support for terrorist groups across the Middle East. “If they want the most durable and lasting kind of deal, then they want to bring it to the Senate and have it voted on as a treaty,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in response to a question from Fox News Digital. “That was one reason why President Obama’s deal was so weak,” Cotton went on. “An agreement between the American president, whoever he or she may be, and a foreign leader, can be reversed by future presidents, which President Trump rightly did seven years ago today.” TRUMP TARGETS IRANIAN OIL WITH SANCTIONS, INCREASING PRESSURE ON ISLAMIC REPUBLIC TO MAKE DEAL ON NUKES In 2015, Cotton led an open letter signed by Senate Republicans to Iranian leaders warning that any nuclear agreement not approved by Congress could be undone by a future administration. The move was widely viewed as a direct effort to undermine President Barack Obama’s ongoing negotiations. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., echoed the call for congressional oversight, saying that “at a minimum” any deal must go through the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), which passed Congress in 2015 with resounding bipartisan support and guarantees lawmakers a chance to review any accord reached with Tehran. Graham said he had told Secretary of State Marco Rubio there was “no way” to get 67 votes to ratify a treaty agreement without Iran totally dismantling its nuclear and missile programs and support for terrorism. WHITE HOUSE CALLS YEMEN CEASEFIRE A ‘WIN’ – EXPERTS WARN HOUTHIS MAY NOT HOLD THE LINE The senators also drew a parallel with the so-called 123 agreements – the legal frameworks that govern U.S. civil nuclear cooperation with foreign nations. These agreements require strict safeguards to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. “It’s also customary in some cases for the Congress, not just the Senate, to pass ordinary legislation that supports the so-called 123 agreements,” Cotton noted, suggesting that any comprehensive deal with Iran should be treated with similar legislative rigor. Cotton and Graham spoke to reporters after introducing a resolution outlining “acceptable” terms of an Iran deal, including total cessation of uranium enrichment. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has amassed enough highly enriched uranium to potentially build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so – though U.S. intelligence assessments maintain that Tehran has not yet made a decision to weaponize. Both U.S. and Israeli officials have ramped up their threats against the regime. Trump has made clear that if talks go south, the U.S. will engage in direct military action to thwart Iran’s nuclear program. Graham suggested the regime only has “weeks” to acquiesce to a deal. “We’re not talking about long, protracted negotiations,” the South Carolina Republican said. “We’re talking weeks, not months, not years. The potential of Iranian breakout looms large here. Israel’s desire to bring closure to this issue looms large here.”
Chief Justice Roberts doubles down on defense of courts as SCOTUS gears up to hear key Trump cases
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts used a public appearance Wednesday to stress the importance of an independent judiciary, doubling down on defense of the courts under fire by President Donald Trump and his allies, who have accused so-called “activist judges” of overstepping their bounds. Asked during a fireside chat event in Buffalo, New York, about judicial independence, Roberts responded in no uncertain terms that the role of the federal courts is to “decide cases, but in the course of that, check the excesses of Congress or the executive.” That role, he added, “does require a degree of independence.” BOASBERG GRILLS DOJ OVER REMARKS FROM TRUMP AND NOEM, FLOATS MOVING MIGRANTS TO GITMO IN ACTION-PACKED HEARING Roberts’ remarks are not new. But they come as Trump and his allies have railed against federal judges who have paused or halted key parts of the president’s agenda. (Some of the rulings they’ve taken issue with came from judges appointed by Trump in his first term.) The Supreme Court is slated to hear a number of high-profile cases and emergency appeals filed by the Trump administration in the next few months, cases that are all but certain to keep the high court in the spotlight for the foreseeable future. Among them are Trump’s executive orders banning transgender service members from serving in the U.S. military, restoring fired federal employees to their jobs and a case about whether children whose parents illegally entered the U.S. and were born here should be granted citizenship. Oral arguments for that last case kick off next week. TRUMP-ALIGNED GROUP SUES CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS IN EFFORT TO RESTRICT POWER OF THE COURTS Just hours before Roberts spoke to U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo, a high-stakes hearing played out in federal court in Washington, D.C. There, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg spent more than an hour grilling Justice Department lawyers about their use of the Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport hundreds of migrants to El Salvador earlier this year. Boasberg’s March 15 order that temporarily blocked Trump’s use of the law to send migrants to a Salvadoran prison sparked ire from the White House and in Congress, where some Trump allies had previously floated calls for impeachment. Roberts, who put out a rare public statement at the time rebuking calls to impeach Boasberg or any federal judges, doubled down on that in Wednesday’s remarks. “Impeachment is not how you register disagreement with a decision,” Roberts said, adding that he had already spoken about that in his earlier statement. In the statement, sent by Roberts shortly after Trump floated the idea of impeaching Boasberg, said that “for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” he said. “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose,” he said in the statement.
Trump considers tax hike on Americans making $2.5 million or more per year
President Donald Trump is considering a small tax increase for wealthy Americans to help pay for his priorities to boost the middle and working classes. A source familiar with Trump’s thinking told Fox News Digital that Trump is considering allowing the rate on individuals making $2.5 million or more to increase by 2.6%, from 37% to 39.6%. He quietly pushed Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the idea in a phone call on Wednesday, two people familiar with conversations told Fox News Digital. It comes as Republicans work on a massive piece of legislation advancing Trump’s priorities on taxes, border security, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt, which the president has dubbed his “big, beautiful bill.” MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE Differing projections show the bill is likely to add trillions of dollars to the country’s deficit over the next 10 years, so fiscal hawks are looking for ways to mitigate that and set up America for a less bloated government down the line by pairing the new priorities with deep spending cuts elsewhere. The tax portion of the bill is expected to be the costliest portion. Republicans are hoping to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) as well as pay for newer Trump priorities like eliminating taxes on tips, overtime wages and retirees’ Social Security. TCJA previously lowered taxes for the highest bracket from 39.6% to 37%, but that’s set to expire at the end of 2025. Trump wants to restore that top bracket, albeit for people making significantly more money than the current threshold. The current top tax bracket is $609,350 for single income earners. The source familiar with Trump’s thinking said doing so would help pay for his “massive” tax cuts for the middle and working classes, as well as protect Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans. Punchbowl News first reported details of the Trump-Johnson phone call. BROWN UNIVERSITY IN GOP CROSSHAIRS AFTER STUDENT’S DOGE-LIKE EMAIL KICKS OFF FRENZY It’s not clear yet what Republicans will decide, or even if they will ultimately decide to raise taxes on the highest earners – but details are expected to emerge in the coming days. The Ways & Means Committee, the House’s tax-writing panel, is expected to meet on Tuesday afternoon to advance that portion of Trump’s bill. Talks about potential tax hikes on the wealthy have triggered a deep rift within the Republican Party. Mainstream conservatives have balked at discussions of raising rates on anyone, arguing it would have a negative impact on job creators, while populist and more moderate Republicans have floated such ideas in order to pay for Trump’s priorities to benefit the middle and working classes. “Raising taxes on America’s highest earners and biggest job creators makes no sense,” Marc Short, a former chief of staff to ex-Vice President Mike Pence and a key part of TCJA negotiations, told Fox News Digital. “I don’t understand why there are some inside the current administration who are pushing Congress to raise the top rate, because again, these are America’s job creators.” Other Republicans told Fox News Digital in recent weeks that they believe the idea could be popular, however. “I’m open-minded to what the president or the treasury secretary may have in mind. And I would want to see some numbers behind it and how it would have an effect on the economy,” conservative Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in late April. “What I’ve heard from people in the upper tax brackets is, you know, they’re willing to pay more as long as they know that it’s paying the debt down. They don’t want to see it go toward more spending.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Johnson’s office for comment.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s lawyers ask for more Trump admin officials to testify, possibly from White House
The lawyers representing Kilmar Abrego Garcia have asked a federal judge for permission to take three additional depositions – from representatives of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the State Department and the Department of Justice (DOJ) – regarding what steps, if any, the Trump administration has taken to facilitate the illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member’s release from custody in El Salvador. In a motion filed Wednesday, Abrego Garcia’s lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland to order the government to designate individuals from DHS, the State Department and the DOJ “who can testify about information known or reasonably available to each Department.” They cited a federal rule to prevent “bandying” of organizations, saying this way would be “the most efficient and least intrusive approach to obtain the necessary discovery.” “By allowing the Government to identify its own Rule 30(b)(6) representatives, Plaintiffs hope to avoid imposing the burden on the heads of the Departments to testify, while properly putting the onus on the Government to prepare their chosen representatives with the Departments’ complete knowledge of the narrow issues at stake in this case,” they wrote. They noted the court has already approved four depositions, three of which have already taken place, yet “plaintiffs are still in the dark about the government’s efforts to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s release from custody and return to the United States.” DEPORTATION FLIGHTS TO LIBYA WOULD VIOLATE COURT ORDER WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS Abrego Garcia’s lawyers said they also might request that someone from the White House testify. “In fact, as seems apparent from its public statements, this case also involves decisionmaking at the White House in addition to the three Departments,” they wrote. “Accordingly, depending on the testimony obtained in any authorized Department depositions, Plaintiffs may need to seek additional testimony from an appropriately knowledgeable representative of the White House.” Fox News Digital reached out to DHS, the State Department, the DOJ, and the White House for comment, but none immediately responded. The motion is redacted in portions with excerpts of depositions that have already taken place regarding Abrego Garcia’s location and custodial status. FEDERAL JUDGE OPENS DOOR TO ALIEN ENEMIES ACT TARGETS SUING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION In a two-page order Wednesday, Xinis – who was appointed by former President Barack Obama – said the Trump administration was invoking the “state secrets privilege” to avoid answering a judge’s questions about Abrego Garcia’s deportation. The judge set a May 12 deadline for both parties to submit briefs “addressing the legal and factual bases for the invocation of those privileges,” and set a May 16 court hearing on the matter in Greenbelt, Maryland. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that Abrego Garcia “is a citizen of El Salvador and should never have been in this country, and will not be coming back to this country.” “There is no scenario where Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again,” Noem said. “If he were to come back, we would immediately deport him again, because he is a terrorist. He’s a human smuggler, and he is a wife beater. ” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The secretary added that Abrego Garcia “is not a citizen of this country and is a dangerous individual who does not belong.” The Trump administration initially admitted that Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador in error, but has since doubled down on his alleged MS-13 membership and documented abuse of his wife while living illegally in Maryland.
Will Trump trade deal with UK ease economic jitters and boost president’s poll numbers?
President Donald Trump is touting that Thursday’s announcement of a trade deal with the United Kingdom – which is the first since the president a month ago announced massive tariffs on nations across the globe – will be “the first of many.” Pushing back against descriptions that the agreement hammered out between the two historic allies was just an initial deal with much more to be negotiated, Trump argued “this is a very big deal…this is a maxed-out deal that we’re going to make bigger.” The financial sector appeared to embrace the deal, with the stock markets rising on news of the agreement. However, for a president aiming to pass a sweeping agenda through Congress, it is the political reaction that may be of upmost importance. Trump’s approval ratings have been sliding since he returned to power in the White House three and a half months ago and are now underwater in most national polling. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY Fueling the drop in Trump’s poll numbers are increased concerns by Americans over the economy and inflation, which were pressing issues that kept former President Joe Biden‘s approval ratings well below water for most of his presidency. Front and center is Trump’s blockbuster tariff announcement a month ago, which sparked a trade war with some of the nation’s top trading partners and triggered a massive sell-off in the financial markets and increased concerns about a recession. Most, but not all, of the most recent national public opinion surveys indicate Trump’s approval ratings in negative territory, which is a slide from the president’s poll position when he started his second tour of duty in the White House. An average of the latest national surveys puts the president’s approval rating underwater by around six points. WHERE TRUMP STANDS IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL Trump stood at 44% approval and 55% disapproval in the most recent Fox News national poll, which was conducted April 18-21. Additionally, the president’s approval registered at 38% on the economy and just 33% on inflation and tariffs. However, veteran Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Williams, when asked about the political impact of Thursday’s trade deal, described it as a “positive first step.” Williams also noted that Trump’s approval ratings are “tied directly to the performance of the economy.” POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS 15 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND PRESIDENCY In discussing his tariffs soon after he announced them on what he called “Liberation Day,” the president touted that “these countries are calling us up, kissing my a–.” “They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please, sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir!’” Trump highlighted. A month later, Trump finally got a chance to showcase a trade agreement. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “President Trump has argued that his agenda requires time for an adjustment and deal making. He’ll be given a period of time to execute deals to prove that his plans are working and the first major trade deal with a nation like the UK is at least a sign that some of the work has been going on behind the scenes thus and is starting to bear fruit,” Williams said. He added that the president will “have to back it up with more, but it is a positive first step for him in securing other deals.”
Top Trump official torches Dem senator’s ‘advocacy for a known terrorist’ during fiery hearing: ‘Alarming’
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Democratic senators, including Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Chris Murphy, sparred over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador. “We have a limited amount of time. I just asked you, Madam Secretary, whether or not you or the Department of Homeland Security are taking any action to facilitate the 9-0 Supreme Court decision to facilitate his return. This is a very simple question. Are you taking any action to facilitate his return, or are you not?” Van Hollen asked at the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing. “This administration is following and complying with all federal court orders,” Noem replied. “So you are so because the court ordered that you facilitate his return. So you are facilitating his return?” ‘I AM AFRAID’: ANOTHER PROTECTIVE ORDER FILING AGAINST DEPORTED ‘MARYLAND MAN’ CHAMPIONED BY DEMS SURFACES “Sir. Senator, thank you for the question. But what I would tell you is that we are following court orders. I’m certain that your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming,” she fired back. “Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and should never have been in this country and will not be coming back to this country,” Noem told Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in a heated exchange at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday morning. “There is no scenario where an Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again. If he were to come back, we would immediately deport him again because he is a terrorist. He’s a human smuggler, and he is a wife-beater,” she continued. Murphy had asked the secretary if she had “reached out to your counterpart in El Salvador to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia’s release.” “Does the Supreme Court decision not require you to facilitate the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia?” Murphy later asked. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TELLS NY TIMES WHY APPROVAL FOR PARTY IS ‘IN THE TOILET,’ GIVES OMINOUS WARNING FOR 2026 “The Trump administration is complying with all court orders and judges’ orders,” she replied. Abrego Garcia, 29, is a Salvadoran illegal immigrant and suspected MS-13 gang member who was living in Maryland until he was deported to the high-security Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) in his home country during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Though many Democrats, including Maryland’s Van Hollen, claim that Abrego Garcia is an innocent man who was “wrongly deported,” the administration has pointed to considerable evidence that he is a member of the infamous MS-13 gang. In recent weeks, two protective orders suggested that he was abusive to his wife, who is now advocating for his release. In addition, the Tennessee Highway Patrol released body camera footage of its 2022 encounter with him, where state troopers suspected he was involved in human trafficking. TENNESSEE BODYCAM OF ‘MARYLAND MAN’ TRAFFIC STOP SHOWS TROOPERS’ HANDS TIED DESPITE SMUGGLING CLUES Several Democrats have argued that he was not given proper due process and that the evidence that he is a member of MS-13, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, is not sufficient to justify his removal. Noem faced mixed reactions of praise and intense criticism at the hearing on Thursday, as Republicans applauded the department’s efforts on illegal immigration, whereas Democrats raised concerns about spending and legal processes. Fox News’ Peter Pinedo, Emma Colton and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Trump touts ‘rebuilding and modernization’ of US air traffic control, blasts Buttigieg for having ‘no clue’
President Donald Trump touted his administration’s efforts to rebuild and modernize U.S. air traffic control, as the Department of Transportation rolled out its three-year plan to build a brand-new, “state-of-the-art” system to address critical safety needs, while blasting former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for having “no clue.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled the proposal Thursday, which would replace the current, antiquated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system and “enhance safety in the sky, reduce delays and unlock the future of air travel.” AMERICANS DESERVE TO HAVE A ‘STATE-OF-THE-ART’ AIR TRAVEL SYSTEM: SEAN DUFFY “Under President Trump, America is building again,” Duffy said Thursday, upon rolling out the new proposal for a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system.” “Decades of neglect have left us with an outdated system that is showing its age,” Duffy said, noting that building the new system “is an economic and national security necessity, and the time to fix it is now.” Under the new air traffic control system proposal, the FAA would replace infrastructure, like radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks to manage modern travel. NEWARK AIRPORT HIT WITH NEW DELAYS, OUTAGE HEARD ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AUDIO Officials say the current system is one built “for the past,” but the new proposal is to build a system “for the future.” The plan would ensure facilities are equipped with better technologies to reduce outages, improve efficiency and reinforce safety. “We’re going to be buying a brand-new, state of the art system that will cover the entire world,” Trump said earlier Thursday. The plan consists of four infrastructure components: communications, surveillance, automation and facilities, according to the Transportation Department. Officials plan, by 2028, to replace current, antiquated telecommunications systems with new fiber, wireless and satellite technologies at more than 4,600 sites; 25,000 new radios, and 475 new voice switches. 618 radars will also be replaced by 2027. The plan would also address runway safety by increasing the number of airports with Surface Awareness Initiative to 200. Officials expect this to be complete by 2027. DUFFY BLASTS BIDEN, BUTTIGIEG FOR IGNORING REPORT ABOUT FAILING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM: ‘DID NOTHING!’ The Transportation Department also proposed building six new air traffic control centers for the first time since the 1960s. It also proposes replacing 15 towers and 15 co-located TRACONs, or Terminal Radar Approach Controls, which are facilities that manage air traffic in the airspace surrounding busy airports. Officials also proposed the installation of new modern hardware and software for all air traffic facilities, which would create a common platform system throughout all towers, TRACONs and centers. The proposal also includes the deployment of additional technologies to the Caribbean and Alaska to provide accurate, real-time surveillance and weather information for air traffic control and pilots to ensure “safe and efficient flights for these critical locations.” Officials stressed the need for a new air traffic control system, saying the FAA is grappling with a “rapidly growing, complex and demanding aviation sector,” as commercial air travel returns to pre-COVID levels. Officials also pointed to novel challenges including drones and advanced air mobility. Officials said that the FAAs current systems “are showing their age,” which leads to “delays and inefficiencies.” The Department of Transportation, though, stressed that the National Airspace System is “safe,” but stressed that maintaining the safety is necessary. The proposal is based on a 3-year framework to reinvest in the National Airspace System, and called for an “emergency supplemental funding increase.” ASTOUNDING NEW AUDIO SHOWS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS REACTING TO FAA TECH OUTAGE: ‘THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE’ “Modernization of the NAS can no longer take 10+ years to complete; it must be done now,” the proposal states. “We need an immediate infusion of funding to address critical infrastructure needs.” Duffy, on Thursday, said the project would take three to four years. “I need help, I can’t do it by myself. And it’s going to take the help of the Congress to make that happen,” Duffy said. “We need all of the money up front.” Duffy said that requesting the money in “small tranches” over the course of several years would extend the project. “Politics change, leadership changes, presidents change, interest changes, and it never gets built,” Duffy said. “So I’m going to ask the Congress for upfront appropriations to give us all the money. I’ll come before the Congress every, every quarter and give them an update of of how far we’ve built, how much money we’ve spent.” Duffy added that if the Department of Transportation is not given the money, it would take “ten to 15 years to build this.” “And by the time we get done with it, what we’re going to build is already going to be old technology,” Duffy said. “So we want to build this in 3 to 4 years, and we can do it with the help of Congress.” A report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in March shows that the Trump administration inherited an outdated FAA system from the Biden administration with “severe shortcomings” that resulted in dangerous travel conditions across the country. After Trump’s return to the White House, GAO advised the administration that it had made nine recommendations to the FAA under the Biden administration that remain open, and that “urgent attention” is needed to remedy the safety issues left by Biden. GAO said that under the Biden administration the FAA “did not prioritize or establish near-term plans to modernize unsustainable and critical systems.” The GAO’s 2025 report said the 2023 national airspace prompted an operational risk assessment, which found that of the 138 air traffic control systems, “51 (37%) were deemed unsustainable by FAA and 54 (39%) were potentially unsustainable.” President Trump, on Thursday, blasted the current “ancient infrastructure,” saying “it’s buckling under the weight of more than a billion flying passengers a year and supporting hundreds of billions of dollars.” “Pete Buttigieg, who was the secretary of transportation, had no clue what the problem was,” Trump said. “He