WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) yesterday questioned the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy during the Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee hearing to review the FY2026 proposed budget for the agency.

Following the mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on January 29, the U.S. Army restricted helicopter operations in the National Capital Region. Last month, the Army lifted those restrictions, and shortly thereafter a military helicopter was involved in two near misses with commercial flights in the DCA airspace. Sen. Moran questioned Secretary Duffy on these helicopter operations and current restrictions.

“The problem is the Army could change their mind and resume flight in restricted airspace, and I want to know whether there’s consultation between the Army and the Transportation Department or the FAA,” said Sen. Moran.

“Secretary Hegseth paused any helo traffic out of the Pentagon, which I commend him for that,” answered Secretary Duffy. “We are going to continue that pause at the FAA at our discretion, and our teams are working together. I’m very concerned about the amount of traffic that’s coming out of the Pentagon, and I do think if there’s training missions those can be done at certain times of the day when we have less traffic into DCA.”

Sen. Moran recently introduced legislation to improve aviation safety by requiring all aircraft operating in Class B airspace to install and activate Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In and Out in order to transmit location data to Air Traffic Control and other aircraft in the area.

Click HERE to watch Sen. Moran’s Questions

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