Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg slammed the Donald Trump administration for rescinding passenger protection laws in the airline sector.
James Blair Slams American Airlines
In a post on the social media platform X on Thursday, White House Deputy for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs James Blair criticized American Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) for delaying his flight by 2.5 hours because “someone failed to notice empty hydraulic fluid before it was time to go down the runway.”
Blair then added that his wife’s flight was also delayed because the airline “apparently forgot to BOOK A PILOT.” The Deputy then said that he would be taking a new interest in the airline industry.
Today, American Airlines delays me 2.5 hours because someone failed to notice empty hydraulic fluid before it was time to go down the runway.
Yesterday, they apparently forgot to BOOK A PILOT for my wife’s flight.
I’m going to take a new interest in the airline industry.
— James Blair (@JamesBlairUSA) February 26, 2026
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Pete Buttigieg Urges Restoring Passenger Rights Work
Buttigieg quoted Blair’s post on Thursday, creating a thread on X where he criticized the Trump administration. “You could begin by restoring the passenger rights work you rolled back,” he said, adding that the administration should also “seriously enforce airline laws,” like the Biden administration, Buttigieg said. “Trust me, it gets results!” He concluded.
You could begin by restoring the passenger rights work you rolled back – and then seriously enforce airline laws, like we did. Trust me, it gets results!
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 26, 2026
Buttigieg On Flight Seating
In a separate post on X on Thursday, Buttigieg also shared how the Department of Transportation (DOT), under him, brought in legislation that allowed families to sit together on flights without any extra charges.
He then questioned whether the Trump administration had axed the reform or was “slow-walking it,” before urging the White House to “change course” and allow Buttigieg’s “policy to take effect.”
Hard to tell if the Trump administration killed this or is just slow-walking it. Either way, they should change course and allow our policy to take effect.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) February 27, 2026
Criticism From Lawmakers
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) earlier criticized the Trump administration for rescinding legislation that facilitated passengers getting compensated for flight delays, as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged passengers to “dress up” for flights.
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Buttigieg, meanwhile, doubled down on his criticism of Trump’s rescinding of the Biden-era Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), calling the move anti-consumer and accusing the administration of “always picking corporations over consumers.”
American Airlines Pledges $1 Billion Miami Investment
Meanwhile, American Airlines has unveiled a plan to invest over $1 billion at the Miami International Airport to build a new three-level Concourse D extension that would facilitate international travel and hold larger aircraft. The investment will also see the construction of 17 new gates, American Airlines said.
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This article Pete Buttigieg Criticizes Trump Admin For Axing Passenger Rights As White House Deputy Decries Delays: ‘…Then Seriously Enforce Airline Laws’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com