In addition, after weeks of claims by Secretary
LaHood and Administrator Huerta that the
Administration has no flexibility in the
implementation of the spending reductions,
Administrator Huerta walked back claims under
direct questioning on the issue by Ranking
Member Thune at the hearing. Administrator
Huerta admitted that the FAA has the flexibility
under current law to transfer up to two percent
of funding from one activity to another without
Congressional action. Also, under direct
questioning, Administrator Huerta admitted the
FAA has the authority to request reprogramming
of funds which could lessen the safety impact of
certain sequestration cuts that the FAA is
currently working to implement.
“Despite prior claims that the FAA has no
flexibility, answers given at yesterday’s
hearing show the FAA indeed has had flexibility
to move funding around to mitigate
tower closures and furloughs for this year
and in the future,” said Thune. “Due to the
limited information provided to Congress and the
public about how the FAA is implementing the
sequester, it remains unclear to what degree the
FAA might utilize these authorities yet this
year. It is also unclear why the Administration
hasn’t sought to exercise such flexibilities due
to the concerns by members of Congress and the
public when it comes to the unprecedented
decision to close so many air traffic control
facilities.”
Last week, Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV
(D-W.Va.) and Ranking Member Thune sent a letter
to the DOT asking that the agency implement
sequestration cuts using lower priority spending
rather than close air traffic control towers
across the country due to unanswered safety
concerns. They were joined on the letter by
Senate Aviation Subcommittee Chairwoman Maria
Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Kelly
Ayotte (R-N.H.), as well as Representatives
Shuster, Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), and Frank
LoBiondo (R-N.J.).
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