Greene Blasts Duffy, Mullin for Using FAA Ground Stop to Demand $50B

Key points

• FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday afternoon, canceling nearly 5,000 flights, citing a 'temporary telecommunications outage' and 'extraordinary circumstances.'
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the outage on outdated infrastructure and demanded $50 billion in emergency funding to modernize air traffic control and airports.
• Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated there is no evidence of a cyberattack, though investigations continue, while Greene claimed the outage was 'obviously' a cyberattack without providing evidence.
• The administration's $50 billion request includes $10.1 billion for air traffic control technology, $2 billion for control towers, and $18 billion for airport projects, including terminal upgrades.
• Democrats and some Republicans, including Rep. Seth Moulton, are demanding answers from the administration on why the system failed and how it will prevent future outages, rather than simply approving the funding request.

Background

The FAA had previously ordered a nationwide ground stop in 2023 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. In January 2025, a midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport killed 67 people, highlighting safety concerns. Congress approved $12.5 billion in July 2025 to upgrade air traffic control and increase controller hiring. The FAA recently rolled out an AI-powered air traffic control tool called SMART, which cost $875 million and debuted in the Washington, D.C. area. Air Space Intelligence, the company behind SMART, denied any link to the ground stop.

How outlets are covering it

The Hill reported that Greene called the Duffy-Mullin press briefing 'unreal bulls---' and a 'shakedown for more money,' alleging the outage was a cyberattack. Yahoo reported that the Trump administration boosted its request for air traffic control funding to $50 billion after the outage, with Duffy calling it an 'emergency.' NBC Boston reported that Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat, said he had 'a lot of questions' for Duffy and others, demanding to know what happened and how the administration will prevent future outages. KOMO reported that the Modern Skies Act, introduced in September, would direct about $30 billion toward modernizing the air traffic control system and upgrading aging airports, with Duffy urging Congress to act now.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the fragility of the US air traffic control system and the political fight over funding for its modernization. The administration's demand for $50 billion in emergency funding, following a rare nationwide ground stop, has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some accusing the administration of using the crisis to pressure Congress for more money. The incident also raises questions about the safety and reliability of the aviation system, as well as the government's ability to prevent future outages.

What to watch

The administration is expected to continue pushing for the $50 billion in emergency funding, while Democrats and some Republicans are expected to demand answers from the administration on why the system failed and how it will prevent future outages. The FAA is expected to continue its investigation into the cause of the outage, and the administration is expected to continue its efforts to modernize the air traffic control system.