Other
1981
1981-08-05 President Ronald Regan fired 11,345 air traffic controllers who were on strike demanding better pay, and shorter workweek, and improved working conditions.
https://millercenter.org/reagan-vs-air-traffic-controllers
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-5/reagan-fires-11359-air-traffic-controllers
2019 November
2019-11-01 (for context) Sean Duffy was a lobbyist for Partnership for Fair and Open Skies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Duffy
https://accountable.us/hearing-highlights-sean-duffy-glosses-over-major-airline-lobbying-conflict/
2025 November
2025-11-14 The Trump administration repealed a Biden-era law which was designed to compensate airline travelers who’s flights were delayed or disrupted.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/us/trump-administration-compensation-flight-disruptions-hnk
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-drops-biden-proposal-delayed-flights-airlines-compensation/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airlines-flight-disruption-transportation-department-cash-refund/
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-20042.pdf
2025-11-19 Department of Transportation Sean Duffy announced a campaign to urge travelers to dress up when flying and be in a better mood.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transportation-department-air-travel-civility-golden-age-sean-duffy/
https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/11/26/trump-dress-code-flights/
2026 February
2026-02-11 The Pentagon shut down El Paso Airport without telling anyone or giving a reason as to why. They initially reported the airport would be shut down for 10 days, then later changed it to 6 hours.
https://apnews.com/live/faa-el-paso-texas-air-space-closed-updates
2026-02-11 Shortly after the closure, the story as to why the shutdown occurred spread, that the shutdown was due to a “Mexican cartel drone”. Sean Duffy posted “the threat has been neutralized”, Pam Bondi used the incident to pivot away from Epstein questions at her hearing, and White House officials pointed fingers at the FAA for the shutdown. Ultimately, the Pentagon (or the FAA) utilized an uncoordinated attack and fired an anti-drone laser at a stray party balloon.
https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/2021594420806639787
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/12/politics/el-paso-trump-administration-finger-pointing
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/coastal/politics/2026/02/11/dc-wrap
2026-02-20 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced CDL drivers would have to take their commercial drivers tests in English, citing it would increase safety.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5748488-cdl-truck-drivers-english-test-sean-duffy/
2026 April
2026-04-17 Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced he will advocate for a hiring campaign to attract video gamers to become Air Traffic Controllers.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5836498-faa-targets-gamers-hiring/
2026-04-23 Spirit Airlines announced it would be liquidating their company amid rising fuel prices, shrinking cash reserves, and debt.
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/22/nx-s1-5789050/spirit-airlines-liquidation-bankruptcy-impact
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/22/spirit-airlines-rescue-trump-administration.html
2026 May
2026-05-03 (for context because thousands of employees were left without jobs) After Trump’s tariffs, heavy spending, and elective war in Iran all took a toll on the economy, Spirit Airlines liquidated all its assets.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/01/spirit-airlines-trump-bailout.html
2026-05-05 Due to Trump’s economy, Delta Airlines announced it would drop food and beverage services from flights under 350 miles.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/delta-cuts-food-drink-service-short-flights-350-miles/
2026-05-14 A jury in Chicago ordered Boeing to pay nearly $50M in a lawsuit stemming from a fatal crash.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boeing-737-max-crash-victim-family-jury-49-5-million/