Reps. Suozzi and D’Esposito React to FAA’s Disgraceful Response to their Letter Demanding Rescission of Plan to Reassign Air Traffic Controllers From New York to Philadelphia

Washington, DC - Today, Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) and Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04) received a letter from the FAA in response to their letter dated May 7, 2024, demanding rescission of a plan to reassign air traffic controllers from the New York (N90) Terminal Air Route Control (TRACON) facility to the Philadelphia (PHL) TRACON. 

In the May 7 letter, co-signed by Sen. Charles Schumer (NY); Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY); Rep Nick LaLota (NY-01); Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY-02): and Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-08), the lawmakers charged that “the FAA has clearly failed to consider the many personal aspects of such a decision, including its effects on controller’s families, relatives, homeownership, and community ties.” They urged the FAA to “immediately rescind its reassignment plan and protect families from forced relocation.”

The lengthy and evasive response from the FAA contains more distractions than actual substance. What is clear in the FAA response is that they are still proceeding with their plan to require air traffic controllers to pull up stakes and move their families from their homes in New York to Philadelphia, disregarding serious concerns raised by seven lawmakers. The FAA's course of action ignores legitimate objections and is contemptible.

“The FAA’s refusal to reconsider their relocation plan is an abuse of power and simply, a disgrace. The impact that these relocations will have on hardworking families cannot be understated. These air traffic controllers accepted their positions at N90 believing that they would be able to create stable long-term homes for themselves and their families here in New York," said Suozzi. We have been down this road before with the FAA and will keep fighting this shortsighted and thoughtless decision.”

“I am extremely disappointed with the FAA’s mistreatment of N90 employees, and I continue to demand that FAA leaders scrap their unjust forced transfer plans for workers stationed at N90.  The callousness displayed by the FAA towards N90 employees who live and work in my congressional district demands further attention, and I remain resolute that Congress must explore all possible avenues to prevent these good union jobs from being outsourced to other states,” said D’Esposito. “I will continue utilizing my position on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to fight for N90 employees and keep their jobs on Long Island.”

“There are 18 families of air traffic controllers on Long Island whose lives are hanging in the balance, and it is disheartening that the FAA Administrator took almost a month to respond to our lawmakers,” said Joe Segretto, NATCA N90 President, NY TRACON.  “In that letter, the FAA failed to mention that they made a promise to both NATCA and the members of the House and Senate that no employee would be forced to relocate to Philadelphia from Long Island. We continue to urge Congress to uphold the FAA’s promise and not uproot our air traffic controllers from their homes and families, exacerbating an already stressed system.”

“The safe management of our nation’s airspaces is at the core of the FAA’s mission, and protecting the workers who make our airports run smoothly is a critical part of that mission,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Displacing dedicated air traffic controllers and their families from their beloved community is completely antithetical to this mission. We cannot treat these hardworking professionals as pawns, and I will continue to fight to keep these jobs and families in New York where they belong.”

“The FAA’s response is wholly unsatisfactory and does not offer a solution that will allow those controllers who do not want to move to remain on Long Island,” said Senator Schumer. “They should instead find better ways to incent others to accept a move. I will continue fighting for these controllers and their families.”

“The FAA's response overlooks the key concerns outlined in our prior communication, instead inundating us with irrelevant minutiae. It's evident from the letter that the FAA persists in its plan to relocate workers and their families to Philadelphia,” said Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01). “In disregarding the substantial disruptions their actions would impose on individuals and communities, the FAA demonstrates a lack of concern for its employees. This response is a blatant disregard for families and operations, and I will fervently advocate until the FAA rectifies the situation.”

“This response shows the FAA’s shortsightedness at the expense of New Yorkers who will be uprooted all while disrupting vital operations in the region,” said Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02). “Long Island’s N90 employees are not numbers on a spreadsheet to be moved around. They are real people with families who deserve consideration and respect from the FAA. I urge the FAA to change course and put a stop to these callous forced relocations.”

“The FAA’s decision to forcibly reassign Newark Airport air traffic controllers to the Philadelphia area is completely unacceptable. It upends the lives of these controllers and their families and stretches the Newark Airport, which is only at 80% staffing, even thinner,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “I’m calling on the FAA — with my colleagues on both sides of the Hudson and both sides of the aisle — to reverse course and put our air traffic controllers first.”

“Our dedicated air traffic controllers work tirelessly to ensure the safety of the flying public and the operation of thousands of flights per day,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06). “The impact that these forcible reassignments would have on local families is unacceptable. I stand with my colleagues in calling for this misguided plan to be scrapped.”

“The FAA’s position here is not acceptable for Garden Staters,” said Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-09). “This decision would badly impact air traffic controllers, their families, and commuters across our Tristate area. The strong record of American air safety over these past 15 years ties back to Congress’s reforms and our hardworking air traffic controllers. These shortsighted relocation orders should be rescinded immediately.”

Here is the full response from the FAA.