The Federal Aviation Administration has used the $12.5 billion Congress already approved for the air traffic control overhaul to replace thousands of copper lines and upgrade hundreds of radio systems, AP reports, as relayed by Israel National News.
That is the same $12.5 billion the Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, called "a partial payment" on Saturday. AP's account means the money approved so far has bought real upgrades. Duffy has complained that Congress does not provide the resources and is now asking for $50 billion. AP's breakdown of what the money bought has not been independently checked.
On Friday 13 November, Duffy argued that holding back on spending carries its own danger, according to AP:
"By doing nothing, you inject way more risk into the system"
Separately, Just the News reports that Maria Cantwell, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, said the committee will review how planes communicate through primary and backup frequencies.