Cabinet Feud Erupts Over Military Helicopter Flights Near D.C. Airport

A public spat broke out between Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a near-disaster involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial plane near Reagan National Airport. Duffy criticized the Pentagon for inadequate oversight and “broken promises” on flight safety, while Hegseth’s team briefly paused many non-essential helicopter flights. By Tuesday, both officials tried to smooth tensions. Still, the controversy spotlights how fragmented coordination between agencies can put civilian air traffic at risk—and how feuds within the administration sometimes spill into public view.