An official from President Donald Trump’s administration engaged in a public exchange of criticisms with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concerning the efforts of Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, in pinpointing wasteful expenditures linked to USAID.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed a criticism from Clinton on social media after he announced that personnel from DOGE, under Musk’s direction, would assist the department in enhancing its aviation systems in the wake of two fatal plane crashes that occurred during Duffy’s brief time in office.
Clinton asserted that the department has ‘declined’ under Duffy’s guidance, overlooking the numerous transportation infrastructure incidents and failures that transpired during former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s four-year term.
Clinton asserted that the personnel at DOGE lack the necessary experience to manage an upgrade of the aviation system. She remarked, ‘Many of them are not even of age to rent a car. Are you really going to allow them to interfere with airline safety, which has already declined under your supervision?’ This statement was made in a post on X on Wednesday.
In response, Duffy pointed out that it is the seasoned bureaucrats in Washington who are responsible for the issues plaguing the federal government and the deterioration of the nation’s infrastructure.
Your team had an opportunity and did not succeed. We are proceeding without your involvement because the American public expects us to enhance the transportation system in the United States. Furthermore, we will be including the younger generation in our efforts,” Duffy stated.
In addition to rail incidents, such as a significant chemical leak near a small Ohio town during the Biden-Harris administration, Boeing aircraft have been implicated in various in-flight emergencies, including the unexpected detachment of a cabin door and complications with the latest iteration of the 737 model. Moreover, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has encountered numerous critical challenges during its inaugural crewed mission, leaving two astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Duffy informed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that, if approved, he would make aviation safety a top priority, which includes rebuilding trust in Boeing, as reported by The Hill.
A high-ranking official from the Biden administration countered Buttigieg’s remarks, which seemed to attribute blame to Trump for the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February, an incident that resulted in a significant environmental catastrophe.
This response from an NTSB official followed Buttigieg’s comments regarding Trump’s visit to the affected community, where he provided water and supplies to support those impacted by the release of hazardous chemicals.
The official criticized Buttigieg for attempting to politicize Trump’s visit and shift blame onto him, emphasizing that the responsibility for the incident rested with the rail company Norfolk Southern.