Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, this week on social media as Buttigieg tried to imply that recent government cutbacks could have led to plane crashes that have occurred since the Trump administration took over.

“The flying public needs answers,” Buttigieg posted on X on Monday. “How many FAA personnel were just fired? What positions? And why?”

His post comes as there have been several recent plane crashes, including a commercial airliner that collided with a helicopter in Washington, D.C., late last month.

“Mayor Pete failed for four years to address the air traffic controller shortage and upgrade our outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system,” Duffy responded. “In less than four weeks, we have already begun the process and are engaging the smartest minds in the entire world.”

“Here’s the truth: the FAA alone has a staggering 45,000 employees,” he continued. “Less than 400 were let go, and they were all probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago. Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go.”

Duffy said that Buttigieg used the Department of Transportation as “a slush fund for the green new scam and environmental justice nonsense.”

“Not to mention that over 90% of the workforce under his leadership were working from home – including him. The building was empty!” he continued. “When we finally get a full accounting of his mismanagement, I look forward to hearing from him.”

Buttigieg’s criticisms of Duffy come as he is considering a run for U.S. Senate in Michigan following the unexpected retirement of Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who said last month that he would not run for re-election in 2026.

Mayor Pete failed for four years to address the air traffic controller shortage and upgrade our outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system. In less than four weeks, we have already begun the process and are engaging the smartest minds in the entire world.

Here’s the… https://t.co/LCL1dswC2T

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 18, 2025