Buttigieg Blasted for Prioritizing DEI Over Air Traffic Control Modernization

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is facing criticism for failing to modernize America’s aging air traffic control (ATC) system during his tenure, instead directing tens of billions toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, according to federal records and airline industry insiders.

In meetings with executives, Buttigieg allegedly dismissed the need for ATC upgrades, questioning why he should support measures that would simply “enable airlines to operate more flights,” sources told the New York Post. Records show the Department of Transportation distributed over $80 billion in DEI-related grants from 2021 to 2024—roughly half the agency’s typical annual budget.

Meanwhile, efforts to address chronic ATC staffing shortages and outdated infrastructure reportedly stalled. “He had little to no interest in modernization,” said one aviation official. “And definitely zero action.”

Despite publicly blaming airlines for delays, insiders say Buttigieg ignored internal warnings that the department’s priorities were undermining air safety. Flight data from 2021 to 2025 shows only 5% of delays were caused by aviation system issues—many tied to controller shortages and aging technology.

Industry groups warned in April 2024 that, at the current FAA hiring pace, it could take up to 90 years to fully staff key control centers in New York. Yet during the same time frame, Buttigieg’s DOT approved more than 400 DEI-focused grants. Critics argue passengers are paying the price for misplaced priorities. “Modernization took a backseat to ideology,” one official said.