FAA Staff Reportedly Ordered to Find Funding for Deal with Musk’s Starlink
The FAA has ordered staff to find tens of millions of dollars in funding for a potential deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX subsidiary Starlink to upgrade air traffic control communications. The proposal could replace an existing Verizon contract, which the government already pays billions of dollars for annually. A verbal agreement between the two parties appears unusual, and officials are still clarifying details about the arrangement.
- This development raises questions about the potential for crony capitalism within the federal government, where private interests may be favored over the public interest.
- How will this deal impact the relationship between SpaceX and the FAA, and what safeguards can be put in place to prevent similar conflicts of interest in the future?