Duckworth condemns Trump flyover in a formal letter to top federal officials, questioning how and why a low pass occurred during a White House Halloween event and whether required safety and budgeting protocols were followed.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois sent the letter Monday to Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. She called the Halloween flyover, which took place Thursday as festivities were underway at the White House, an unnecessary risk and asked for a full accounting of authorizations and decision-making.
According to her letter, Air Force One executed two low passes near the South Lawn during the celebration. Duckworth, a retired Army helicopter pilot and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, requested documentation on airspace coordination, waivers, and any security assessments tied to the flight activity.
Duckworth condemns Trump flyover and questions safety
Duckworth pressed the FAA for details on temporary flight restrictions, altitude clearances and communications with the Secret Service. She also asked the Pentagon to explain the operational purpose of the maneuver and whether training or public affairs objectives were cited. The senator further requested OMB clarify the source of funds used and whether the activity complied with rules governing official versus political events.
In the letter, Duckworth asked for timelines, names of officials who approved the flight, and any after-action reviews or incident reports. She said clear answers are needed to assure the public that federal resources were used appropriately and that no avoidable hazards were introduced during a family-oriented event.
As of Monday, the agencies had not publicly responded to the inquiries. Duckworth indicated she expects a prompt reply and said further oversight may follow if questions remain unresolved.
