It’s a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which has left hundreds dead and hundreds more unaccounted for across North Carolina, private drone operators have been some of the only heroes on the scene. These drones have delivered baby formula, insulin, and crucial supplies to communities cut off by floodwaters. You’d think the government would be applauding these efforts. Instead, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered a suspension of private drone flights in the disaster zone.
Rather than clearing the way for lifesaving efforts, the DOT initially told private drone pilots to stand down, claiming they could “interfere” with emergency operations. Social media quickly lit up with backlash, and it’s easy to see why. One user rightly pointed out, “The USDOT and FAA don’t know drones are saving lives and aiding rescue efforts by flying insulin to inaccessible regions.” Another user nailed it: “This is so damn stupid. People are getting baby formula, insulin, and food this way after being without help from our federal government for six days.”
https://twitter.com/USDOT/status/1841565072360968304
The USDOT and FAA don’t know drones are saving lives and aiding rescue efforts by flying insulin to inaccessible regions, locating trapped and isolated individuals, and providing imagery to the world. pic.twitter.com/X78XiALBks
— Chris Bryant (@iamchrisbryant) October 3, 2024
Oh, this is so damn stupid. People are getting baby formula, insulin and food this way after being without help from our federal government for "6" days.
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) October 3, 2024
And, unsurprisingly, after the public outcry, Buttigieg’s team started backpedaling. According to the DOT’s clarification, the original order was simply part of a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that was lifted by the next evening. In their statement, they claimed that TFRs are typically issued at the request of local authorities to ensure safety. But here’s the kicker—they insisted that “relief operations, including civilian operations and volunteers” could still operate if they coordinated with local emergency responders. The message? Sure, help—just not without a mountain of red tape.
Once again, we see federal agencies fumbling the response to a natural disaster. FEMA, the DOT, and the Biden administration are showing their true colors by trying to micromanage citizen efforts rather than letting them assist where the government is falling short. Instead of empowerment, it’s obstruction, all wrapped up in bureaucratic nonsense.
This mess exposes a bigger problem: an administration more interested in controlling the narrative than enabling citizens to help their neighbors. If Buttigieg and FEMA were genuinely concerned about safety, they’d be working overtime to streamline aid, not hampering it. Americans need a government that steps up in a crisis—not one that creates more obstacles.
The bottom line? People deserve better. It’s time for accountability and leadership, two things that seem to be in short supply under this administration.
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