Systems In Office Of Commercial Space Transportation Off-Limits

Three SpaceX engineers brought in as unpaid temporary Special Government Employees or SGEs, at the FAA have no access to any systems under the agency’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, the office which licenses space launches for commercial operations such as SpaceX.

The three engineers, Brady Glantz, Theodore Malaska, and Thomas Kiernan, are considered temporary and they are allowed to remain employed by SpaceX, subject to federal criminal conflict of interest requirements.

Although according to the conflict of interest waivers for the three, they are allowed to participate in matters that may have a direct effect on SpaceX. However, they are prohibited from making any decisions regarding federal funding or contract awards to SpaceX.

They are also not permitted to perform any lobbying or fundraising activities on behalf of SpaceX while employed at the FAA.

Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation said in a post on social media channel X, “America deserves safe, state-of-the-art air travel, and President Trump has ordered that I deliver a new, world-class air traffic control system that will be the envy of the world.

“To do that, I need advice from the brightest minds in America.

“I’m asking for help from any high-tech American developer or company that is willing to give back to our country.

“Tomorrow, members of Elon Musk’s SpaceX team will be visiting the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in VA 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.”

Duffy went on to point out, “Because I know the media (and Hillary Clinton) will claim Elon’s team is getting special access, let me make clear that the FAA regularly gives tours of the command center to both media and companies."

FMI:  www.transportation.gov/