Reports have surfaced that US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff are being directed to find tens of millions of dollars for a deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink, amid controversy surrounding the agency’s $2.4 billion contract with Verizon. The FAA may be considering canceling its contract with Verizon and instead opting for Starlink to overhaul the country’s airspace management systems.
Anonymous sources claim that FAA officials made verbal orders to staff on Friday, instructing them to secure funding for the deal. This move comes after Musk previously stated that air traffic control communications are “extremely dire” and that Starlink terminals are being sent to restore connectivity at no cost to taxpayers.
The FAA has confirmed receiving 4,000 Starlink terminals to aid in upgrading its networks, but the agency’s intentions regarding its Verizon contract remain unclear. The situation is further complicated by layoffs among FAA employees, which have been attributed to Musk’s DOGE cryptocurrency project.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/transportation/faa-reportedly-ordered-staff-to-find-millions-of-dollars-to-fund-starlink-deal-205236985.html