1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The recent radar and radio communication outage at Newark Liberty International Airport, resulting in air traffic controllers guiding planes blind for 90 critical seconds, underscores the urgent need to address staffing issues at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This disturbing incident not only caused severe travel disruptions but also jeopardized aviation safety, with multiple employees placed on trauma leave in its aftermath. Such system failures cannot be allowed to recur, as they put lives at risk and erode public confidence in air travel. Restoring adequate staffing levels and providing necessary support for FAA personnel must be a top priority to prevent catastrophic consequences. Immediate action is imperative to ensure the robustness and reliability of our nation's air traffic control infrastructure.