The United States President-elect Trump nominated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated during a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday (January 15) that Boeing needs “tough love” to learn from the air travel accident that occurred in 2024 and get back on track. He emphasized the importance of overseeing the implementation of safety plans at Boeing, as well as urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure their execution.
“We must ensure that they (Boeing) are carrying out safety plans. We must urge the FAA to ensure that they are implementing safety plans,” Duffy said at the hearing. He further emphasized his commitment to working with Congress and the FAA to restore global confidence in Boeing and ensure the safety of our skies.
Duffy pointed out that “Boeing is a matter of national security. Boeing is the largest exporter in the United States, its significance is unbelievable.” He continued, “In a meeting, someone said they (Boeing) need ‘tough love,’ and that’s what they need.”
On January 5, 2024, an Alaska Airline’s new Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft experienced an in-flight incident where a door panel detaches due to the absence of four bolts. Following this, the FAA placed Boeing under strict supervision indefinitely and prohibited Boeing from increasing production, capping the monthly production of 737 MAX aircraft at 38.
The current FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker plans to step down on January 20, with Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson having already left her position last week. As of now, President Trump has not yet nominated a new head for the FAA department.
Furthermore, most federally funded road maintenance fees are collected from diesel and gasoline taxes, while electric vehicles are exempt from these taxes. Regarding this issue, Duffy stated, “They should pay for using our roads. I believe figuring out how to do this is a more challenging task.”
Some states in the United States charge electric vehicle owners fees to cover road maintenance costs. Over the past thirty years, Congress has opted not to tax electric vehicles but instead has used general tax revenue to address the shortfall in the federal highway trust fund.