FAA Targeting Verizon Contract in Favor of Musk’s Starlink

According to two Washington Post sources, the Federal Aviation Administration is considering cancelling a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon to overhaul a communications system that serves as the backbone of the nation’s air traffic control system and will award the work instead to Elon Musk’s Starlink – an action that would be a major test of government contracting conflict-of-interest rules, and adds to Musk’s existing conflicts of interest at the FAA relating to SpaceX.

John Pelissero, Ethics Center director of government ethics, said it appears that “because of Musk’s current position in DOGE and his closeness to Trump he and his company are getting an advantage and getting a contract.”

“Who’s looking out for the public interest here when you get the person who’s cutting budgets and personnel from the FAA, suddenly trying to benefit from still another government contract?” Pelissero said.

John Pelissero, director, government ethics, quoted by The Washington Post.