Secretary defers on El Paso airspace questions; officials focus public remarks on trucking enforcement
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Summary
Reporters questioned the secretary about a controversial El Paso airspace closure; he said he will brief Congress first and declined to provide detailed public comment, while most briefing time covered FMCSA enforcement actions on trucking safety.
During the press session, reporters asked the secretary about a widely criticized social‑media post and a recent El Paso airspace closure. An NBC reporter asked whether the secretary would change wording or acknowledge error; Secretary Sean Duffy said he will brief Congress next week and deferred detailed comment until after that briefing.
A CNN reporter asked whether communication breakdowns occurred; Duffy said he prefers to address members of Congress first and that he maintains regular communication with other officials. He declined to say more before the Hill briefing. The exchange moved quickly back to trucking issues after the secretary said he would take Congressional questions first.
The press also asked FMCSA about the scope of criminal‑interdiction training and whether it covers cargo and drivers; FMCSA Administrator Derek Bars confirmed the training will cover both cargo and drivers and described it as broader than drug interdiction, including human trafficking and other criminal activity.
