Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke directly with Elon Musk on the billionaire’s X platform on Friday. The move is part of an effort to counter false conspiracies about federal disaster relief for Hurricane Helen victims that Musk has spread on his platform, where he has more than 200 million followers.
“No one is closing airspace, and the FAA is not blocking legitimate rescue and recovery flights,” Buttigieg wrote. “If you have a problem, please call me.”
Buttigieg was responding to a post by Musk that falsely claimed the Federal Aviation Administration was closing airspace over affected areas and “throttling” flights transporting supplies.
“There are no airspace restrictions in place in North Carolina as rescue operations continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen,” an FAA spokesperson told CNBC. You will need to contact the airport to obtain permission.” “We are cooperating with local authorities to ensure the rescue operation is carried out safely.”
Musk’s false claims are among several conspiracies he has spread about federal emergency workers this week as tens of thousands of people in Helen’s hardest-hit states turn to government agencies for disaster relief. There was one.
“@FEMA is not only not adequately helping people in need, they are actively blocking citizens who are trying to help!” Musk said in an apparent text message in a social post.
A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency responded to Musk in a statement to CNBC, saying, “FEMA is confiscating or expropriating goods, supplies, or resources in North Carolina, Tennessee, or other states affected by Helen. That claim is false,” the communications director said. Jaclyn Rotenberg.
FEMA has previously deployed Starlink to support disaster response in places like Guam, Hawaii and Alaska, she noted. In storm-hit North Carolina, Starlink units are supporting state and local governments, urban search and rescue, and disaster coordination efforts.
Musk has publicly supported former Republican President Donald Trump and has become a major donor to the party in recent years.
On Friday, President Trump amplified Musk’s false claims about FEMA and the FAA on his social media platform Truth Social, posting them without comment to his nearly 8 million followers.
Musk’s SpaceX and its satellite internet service brand Starlink previously announced they would send about 500 Starlink kits donated by individuals and organizations to support Helene recovery efforts. We also made Starlink internet service free for 30 days for users in Helen-affected areas.
This came after FEMA previously announced it would deploy SpaceX Starlink terminals to provide internet service to remote areas affected by the storm.
Musk, who frequently uses X to provoke, escalated his fight with the U.S. government on Friday by slamming FEMA.
He has previously threatened to sue the Federal Aviation Administration, attacked the Environmental Protection Agency for penalizing SpaceX, and lambasted other federal agencies.
Mr. Musk’s SpaceX relies on federal agencies for billions of dollars a year in revenue, and Mr. Musk’s automaker Tesla has given the company significant loans, tax breaks and other subsidies and incentives. It has benefited greatly from federal programs.
People in designated counties who suffered loss or damage from Tropical Storm Helen can apply for government assistance by using the FEMA app, available for download from the Apple Store or Google Play Store, by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 1- You can apply. 800-621-3362.
–NBC’s Cristian Santana contributed reporting