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Sean Duffy: “I need 31 and a half billion dollars to do this build.”

Featuring: Sean Duffy, Republican | Secretary of Transportation | National

Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX

Published November 11, 2025 | Video Starts at 21:33

I'll do one more question, then I gotta run. What are the next steps to getting. Them that technology, New technology for air traffic controllers. So I need 31 and a half billion dollars to do this build. The big beautiful bill gave me $12.5 billion. So we're in the process of picking an integrator. No offense, Frank. The FAA Does a great job at safety. (21:33–21:37)

CLAIM

Asserts that $31.5 billion is needed for the air traffic control technology build.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Sean Duffy

“We used to have four air traffic controllers retire every day. We now have 15 to 20 air traffic controllers retiring a day.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 01:36-01:49
“We are about 2000 controllers short trying to make up that difference.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 01:50-02:00
“The last administration didn't see the 85 near misses that happened in that airspace.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 08:46-08:53
“You can't fly a private aircraft into those airports [LAX, Seattle, Denver, O'Hare, Boston, Newark, JFK, Atlanta, Dallas].”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 18:21-18:26
“We've reduced private jet travel or General Aviation by 10%.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 18:35-18:41
“We have had significant staffing shortages with our air traffic controllers.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 00:20-00:26
“Anywhere from 24 to 48 hours after the government opens, they are going to get a photo ID and 70% of their pay.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 02:11-02:24
“The remaining 30%, I think, will come in about a week after the government opens.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 02:38-02:46
“If the government doesn't open, it is going to radically slow down.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 03:30-03:36
“On Saturday, we reduced our flights by 4%, so 4% of commercial aviation had to be canceled.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 07:30-07:39
“Today, we increased it by another 2%. So we're at 6% of cancellations of flights in the airspace.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 08:10-08:18
“We had four staffing triggers today. On Saturday there were 81. I think Sunday was 53.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 11:44-11:52
“Oh, I think it's gonna be more than 10%.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 12:44-12:47
“We are going to pay them a bonus and it'll be $10,000 depending on how many we have.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 13:38-13:45
“We've kept paying the students at the academy a stipend to make sure the Academy is still operational.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 14:08-14:17
“We have air traffic controllers who can retire after 25 years of service.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 14:30-14:34
“A far greater majority of those controllers that I thought were going to stay are now retiring.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 14:51-14:59
“We are going to get the Academy fully operational to get as many controllers into the airspace as possible.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 15:02-15:09
“We are going to look at those controllers who continually made the decision not to show up for work.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 15:51-15:59
“They'll be paid within 24 to 48 hours of the government opening.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 16:32-16:38
“They'll get 70% of their back pay in that time frame and then after the remainder will be made up.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 16:37-16:44
“You may find airlines that stop flying full stop.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 20:35-20:40
“The big beautiful bill gave me $12.5 billion.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 21:37-21:42
“We're going to have an outside company manage the build.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 21:50-21:54
“We have to switch from analog to digital, by the way.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 22:00-22:03
“Republicans and Democrats agree, we need the money.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 22:17-22:21
“The software that's going to run our airspace has to be brand new.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 22:27-22:33
“The air traffic controllers, they need brand new equipment.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 22:43-22:47
“We were given the money in the big beautiful bill.”
Sec. Sean Duffy gives update on air travel | LiveNOW from FOX | Uploaded November 11, 2025 | 23:38-23:41