Two years after Verizon secured a $2 billion contract to upgrade the Federal Aviation Administration’s IT infrastructure, the agency is switching to Starlink internet terminals.
In a late-night X post-Monday, Starlink CEO Elon Musk said that Verizon’s network was faulty, asserting it was a safety risk.
“The Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk,” Mr. Musk posted.
The Washington Times has reached out to Verizon for comment.
The post follows confirmation from the FAA on Monday that the Starlink terminals would be used to assist air traffic controllers at two stations in Alaska. The FAA said it has long considered using Starlink technology to increase safety in remote areas.
Last week, Mr, Musk approved the shipment of 400,000 Starlink terminals for use by the FAA. The administration confirmed that one terminal is already being used for testing at the FAA’s air traffic control lab in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The FAA’s apparent shift to Starlink terminals comes two years after Verizon was awarded a contract worth $2 billion to upgrade the administration’s critical infrastructure. It is unclear if the FAA’s use of Starlink terminals will complicate the administration’s contract with Verizon.
Officials have known about the need to modernize the FAA’s air traffic control systems for years. In 2024, the Government Accountability Office urged the administration to rapidly update the three-quarters of its systems that it found to be unsustainable.
Last month’s mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a regional jet has reinvigorated the fight to upgrade the FAA’s aging systems. President Trump has tapped Mr. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to work with the FAA to modernize the nation’s aviation systems.
Mr. Musk and his team of DOGE workers have spent most of the first month of the new Trump administration recommending cuts to several key federal agencies and gaining access to troves of data.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.