Controllers Blast FAA Chief Over Withheld 2.8% Raise

Controllers told the Examiner that Bedford is running a federal safety agency like a corporate balance sheet, comparing his approach to his time at the regional carrier Republic Airways and saying cost-effectiveness has been put ahead of public safety.

"We work hard every day and take a tremendous amount of pride in what we do. Most of us are veterans," one controller told the paper. "We have been completely demoralized for the past five years while trying to manage the busiest airspace in the world with more airplanes than any other time in aviation."

Another aimed at both the administrator and his boss: "Controllers are working harder than ever, moving more traffic than ever, and are responsible for a large portion of the country's GDP but Bedford and [Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy] are literally trying to make [the] job more difficult instead of helping us."

The retired New York Center controller said of his old facility: "With the administration that's in now, the morale in that building is at an all-time low."

Several current and retired controllers told the Examiner their union has been treading lightly with the Trump administration out of concern the government could legally move to decertify it, as the Reagan administration did. The Frank found no comment from the FAA, the Department of Transportation, Bedford or Duffy in either source.