Summary
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk engaged in a heated exchange during a closed-door Cabinet meeting, with Musk accusing Rubio of firing “nobody” from his department.
Rubio angrily responded by citing 1,500 State Department staff who took early retirement and sarcastically asked if Musk wanted to rehire them just to fire them again.
The argument, which also involved Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over FAA management. Duffy complained DOGE’s youngsters were trying to fire air traffic controllers, which Musk responded was a “lie.”
Following the meeting, Trump announced on Truth Social that future DOGE cuts would use a “scalpel” rather than a "hatchet.
Marco: you fired air traffic controllers, Emu!
Emu: nuh-uh
Yes, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has initiated significant changes within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the dismissal of numerous air traffic controllers and safety officials.
Key Developments:
February 5, 2025: Following a mid-air collision over the Potomac River, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced DOGE’s intervention in the FAA to “upgrade our aviation system.” Elon Musk emphasized plans to implement “rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system.”
February 17, 2025: Reports confirmed that Elon Musk authorized the termination of hundreds of FAA safety officials. David Spero, President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, criticized these actions, highlighting potential national safety risks.
Additionally, SpaceX employees were assigned to the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center, raising concerns about conflicts of interest due to ongoing disputes between Musk’s companies and the FAA.
These measures have sparked debates regarding the implications for air traffic safety and the potential conflicts arising from Musk’s dual roles in private aerospace ventures and federal oversight.