PolitiFact is reporting that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg accurately stated the Federal Aviation Administration reduced its air traffic control staffing target by approximately 2,000 positions. The FAA's 2026-28 workforce plan set a new goal of 12,563 controllers, down from a previous forecast of 14,633. PolitiFact said Buttigieg's claim, made on CNN, omitted context that the change followed a legislatively mandated review. The agency currently employs about 11,000 controllers, with another 4,000 in training. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it was not involved in developing the new plan and dismissed its underlying staffing model as the "root cause of the staffing crisis." The FAA said its new plan will enhance safety and efficiency through modern scheduling tools and efficient staff allocation, originating from an "independent and objective organization."
It also reported on the safety of mifepristone, the first of two pills used in medication abortions, amid legal challenges and Republican politicians questioning its risks. The Food and Drug Administration in 2023 stopped requiring in-person dispensing, allowing telehealth prescriptions and mail delivery, a situation that remains despite state-level legal challenges. PolitiFact said Republican U.S. senators have exaggerated mifepristone's health risks, citing a figure of 1 in 10 women experiencing serious complications or needing emergency room visits. This figure originated from a report by a conservative nonprofit that opposes abortion and was not peer-reviewed. Over 250 reproductive health researchers criticized the report for methodological issues. The Trump administration's top health officials had promised a review of mifepristone's safety last year, but no new review has been released. PolitiFact concluded that existing research generally indicates mifepristone is safe.