Department of Transportation records and airline industry sources show that under former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the agency funneled more than $80 billion into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives while delaying critical air traffic control system modernization, as reported by The New York Post.

Federal data reviewed from 2021 to 2024 indicates that nearly 400 DEI-related grants were awarded by the Department of Transportation during Buttigieg’s tenure, a substantial increase from the 60 similar grants awarded under the previous administration.

The funding, drawn heavily from the Biden administration’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure law, accounted for over half of the DOT’s annual budget across several fiscal years.

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Airline officials told The Post that Buttigieg demonstrated “little to no interest” in advancing air traffic control modernization efforts.

One executive recounted a meeting in which Buttigieg reportedly remarked that system upgrades would just help airlines “fly more planes,” questioning how that served his interests.

The failure to prioritize modernization left the FAA reliant on systems dating back to the Carter administration, contributing to staffing shortages and travel disruptions. “He was definitely pushing an agenda,” an industry official stated.

In April 2024, a coalition of aviation trade associations sent an urgent letter to DOT leadership, warning that at the FAA’s current hiring pace, it could take nearly 90 years to fully staff critical air traffic control centers in the New York region.

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At the time, the FAA was operating with only 80% of its targeted number of certified professional controllers, a shortage that has persisted since at least 2017.

The DOT under Buttigieg also approved DEI projects like the “Justice40” initiative, which allocated 55% of $150 billion in infrastructure funding to “disadvantaged communities.”

Some programs, like a $5 billion effort to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations, resulted in just seven stations being constructed by mid-2024.

Spokesman Chris Meagher defended Buttigieg’s record, pointing to initiatives such as increased air traffic controller hiring, improved flight routes, and efficiency upgrades.

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He also emphasized that DEI programs operated independently of FAA activities. “You can walk and chew gum at the same time,” Meagher said. “FAA operates completely separately than other modal administrations.”

Despite those claims, critics argue the DOT’s resources were misallocated, leaving the flying public vulnerable. In January 2023, the FAA issued its first nationwide ground stop since 9/11 due to a system outage.

Twelve days before the 2024 election, Buttigieg’s DOT enacted a rule requiring airlines to compensate passengers up to $1,000 for cancellations and delays, which airline trade groups called a political move.

Former FAA executive David Grizzle, who served under President Barack Obama, noted that the lack of aviation progress under Buttigieg wasn’t unusual, but said there were “no remarkable achievements” during his term.

“The shortfall in budget is something that really began in the [2010s] and has really gotten worse over time,” he added.

As of last month, Buttigieg led the 2028 Democratic primary field in a national Emerson College poll with 16% support. He remains a top contender despite concerns from industry insiders about his performance.

President Trump’s recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill” includes $12.5 billion in new funding for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to overhaul FAA systems. According to Grizzle, “He will stand out for decades as one of the most engaged secretaries we’ve had.”

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