Lawmakers question Musk influence over Verizon FAA contract

A growing number of U.S. lawmakers are raising questions about the potential for SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to interfere or take over a $2.4b FAA telecommunications contract with rival Verizon. Musk, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump who owns satellite company Starlink, has sharply criticized the current FAA telecom system. "Elon Musk’s tweets suggest he’s trying to interfere in the Air Traffic Control system – including trying to cancel FAA's $2.4b competitively awarded telecommunications upgrade contract in favor of a sole source installation of his Starlink services – and sure seem to raise serious red flags," Senator Maria Cantwell said late Friday. The FAA in 2023 awarded Verizon a contract worth up to $2.4b over 15 years to design, build and operate the FAA’s new next-generation communications platform. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the FAA was close to canceling the $2.4b 15-year contract awarded to Verizon to overhaul a communications system and awarding the work to Musk's Starlink. The FAA said it has not made any decision on the contract but sources told Reuters the FAA is reviewing the contract. SpaceX and Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<br/>