Duffy Blames Biden, Buttigieg for ‘Bungled’ Newark Tech

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the FAA would be reducing flights in Newark.

Caleb Revill

Monday, May 12, 2025 at 04:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

United Express CRJ aircraft in Newark [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Flights at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) are being temporarily reduced due to a combination of runway construction, staffing shortages, and technology issues, specifically concerning the Philadelphia TRACON radar.
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy attributes the problems to the previous administration's "bungled" transfer of Newark's airspace control to Philadelphia TRACON, which created vulnerabilities by relying on unhardened telecommunication lines for radar data.
Duffy has requested an investigation into the airspace control move, and Newark is slated to be prioritized for infrastructure upgrades under a proposed FAA air traffic control system revamp; the FAA has also formed a task force and scheduled a meeting to address delays.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the FAA would be temporarily reducing flights at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) during a press conference on Monday afternoon.

Hours before the conference, the FAA published a statement saying it would slow arrivals and departures at the airport due to runway construction, staffing, and technology issues at the Philadelphia TRACON radar—which briefly went offline Friday for the second time this month.