A team from Elon Musk's SpaceX is visiting the Air Traffic Control Command Center in Virginia to help overhaul the system, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced. This development comes on the heels of a deadly air disaster in Washington, DC, and amidst reports of hundreds of layoffs of probationary employees who maintain critical air traffic control infrastructure.

The exact number of workers losing their jobs is unknown, but the union representing them said it was in the "hundreds." The Trump administration is in the process of trying to eliminate thousands of federal employees as it works with Congressional Republicans on a massive tax-cutting bill that is said to favor mostly corporations and the wealthy. Critics have pointed out that Musk's status as a major government contractor, mostly through his company SpaceX, represents a massive conflict of interest that both he and President Donald Trump have repeatedly attempted to downplay.

In a post on X, Duffy said the team from SpaceX went to Virginia to "get a firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system." Previously, Duffy said that Musk's DOGE team would "plug in" to the FAA to help "upgrade our aviation system."

However, the move has sparked criticism, with many arguing that Musk's team is getting special access to the FAA. Duffy dismissed these claims, stating that the FAA regularly gives tours of the command center to both media and companies. Despite this, concerns over Musk's influence and the layoffs of critical air traffic control staff remain.

The FAA is under heightened scrutiny three weeks after a midair collision over the Potomac River resulted in the deaths of 67 people. The tragedy highlighted shortages of air traffic controllers as well as congestion at major hubs like Ronald Reagan National Airport. The FAA has fielded hundreds of complaints from air traffic workers describing dangerous conditions from staff shortages to dilapidated buildings.

The agency itself lacked a permanent head at the time of the crash, partly due to Musk's role in ousting the last administrator after the FAA fined SpaceX for failing to submit safety data. The union representing air traffic workers has expressed concerns over the impact of the layoffs, stating that it will increase the workload and place new responsibilities on a workforce that is already stretched thin.

The development raises questions about the future of the FAA's air traffic control system and the role of private companies like SpaceX in shaping its development. As the aviation industry continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadly air disaster, the involvement of Musk's team is likely to be closely watched and scrutinized.

In the midst of this controversy, the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate thousands of federal employees and the favoritism shown to corporations and the wealthy have sparked widespread criticism. The move to overhaul the FAA's air traffic control system, while necessary, is now mired in controversy and concerns over conflict of interest.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the involvement of SpaceX will impact the FAA's air traffic control system and the broader aviation industry. One thing is certain, however: the need for a safer, more modern system is paramount, and any efforts to achieve this goal must be free from conflicts of interest and driven by a commitment to public safety.