The new secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, appeared to walk back an enticement to retire, saying F.A.A. safety workers were exempt from the offer for federal workers.

More than 90% of the country's airport traffic control towers, including Pittsburgh International Airport, are understaffed according to analysis of FAA data. The Federal Aviation Administration data shows that at the time of the report,

The basic problem, which reformers have been trying to remedy since the Clinton administration, is that the system is operated by a cumbersome federal bureaucracy—the same bureaucracy that’s also responsible for overseeing air safety. The FAA is supposed to be a watchdog, but we’ve put it in charge of watching itself.

The head of the air traffic controllers union is warning of understaffing following the deadly midair crash near Reagan National Airport.

Air controller Tyler Casper controls the taxi ways from the 150-foot control tower in 2008. Last week’s mid-air collision highlighted the air traffic controller shortage but FAA documents show Sacramento’s staffing is above its “staffing standards target.”

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there was a "consolidation of air traffic controllers an hour before it was supposed to happen".

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) president addressed concerns about air traffic controller staffing shortages, highlighting a broad need for funding, during a Saturday appearance on CNN.