The UAW leadership had asked for an opportunity to brief White House senior staff on their analysis and positions related to the negotiations with the top U.S. automakers, known as the Big Three. 

When Biden learned about that meeting in the West Wing, he asked to also talk directly with Fain and the two of them had a short meeting, a White House official said.

The union's worker contracts expire in September, and Fain has warned automakers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, formerly Chrysler, that the union is prepared to strike over negotiations about cost-of-living pay raises, pensions and other issues.

Meanwhile, the union said in May it won’t endorse Biden yet due to concerns over the White House’s focus on electric vehicles. The president has directed major funding towards a transition to EVs, building up manufacturing of parts and charging stations. 

Fain said at the time that UAW wants to see a “just transition” to EVs “where the workers who make the auto industry run aren’t left behind.” He noted that taxpayer money is being used to build up the electric vehicle industry.

The union has historically backed Democrats and endorsed Biden in 2020. Fain has made clear the union is not going to support former President Trump.

Other major unions have backed Biden's reelection bid already, including the AFL-CIO, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the American Federation of Teachers, among others.

Ford Motor Co. has cut the prices on its line of electric vehicle (EV) pickup trucks in an effort to challenge EV market leader Tesla. 

CNBC reported on Monday that the Detroit-based automaker said the reasoning behind the price reduction is to boost production of the vehicles, noting they saw improvements when the company achieved lower costs for battery material. 

Prices for the least expensive version of its versions of the F-150 Lighting will now start at $50,000, a $10,000 cut. 

Ford said prices for all versions of its F-150 truck series will drop by at least $6,000 from levels set in March 2024, according to CNBC. Now, the most expensive version of the Lighting F-150 model will start at $92,000, down from about $98,000.

“Shortly after launching the F-150 Lightning, rapidly rising material costs, supply constraints and other factors drove up the cost of the EV truck for Ford and our customers,” said Marin Gjaja, Ford's Model e chief customer officer, in a Monday statement, Reuters reported. 

Gjaja reportedly added that the company will continue “to work in the background to improve accessibility and affordability.”

Ford’s move comes as the automaker is in a price war with Tesla, which is the industry leader in EV sales. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to Ford’s latest initiative, saying in a tweet that, "The Ford Lightning is a good vehicle, just somewhat expensive, especially given the high interest rates these days for any kind of loan." 

Increasing the production of the Lightning and other Ford EVs has been a priority for CEO Jim Farley, though the automaker has sold fewer than 5,000 Lightning models in the second quarter of this year after a fire in one of the EV trucks led to production to be shut down for five weeks, CNBC reported. 

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is speaking out against changes to the perimeter and slot rules at Reagan National Airport (DCA) that currently limit how many flights go in and out of the airport as well as the distance of those trips.  

In a letter to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who serve as chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, respectively, Manchin said the proposed amendments to the rules within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 would “create real and serious concern over continued daily service from regional airports to our nation's capital.”  

Designed to manage congestion at the airport, a perimeter rule of 1,250 miles limits traffic at DCA, which categorizes itself as “short-haul” airport, according to its website. The slot rules limit the number of arrivals and departures at DCA.  

Manchin argued the perimeter and slot rules manage traffic while reducing noise pollution for the nation's capital.

“Changing the Perimeter Rule would come at the expense of small- and medium-sized communities within DCA’s perimeter, including those in my home State of West Virgnia,” Manchin said. “Its role in the Washington area’s airport system allows DCA to serve regional airports with shorter flights and smaller aircraft.”  

Calling Reagan a “space-constrained airport,” Manchin said increasing the number of long-haul flights means “other flights must be eliminated to make room.” Manchin cited findings from the Metropolitan Washington Airport, which concluded “smaller inside-perimeter cities including some state capitals” were at risk of losing nonstop connections to DCA if the proposed changes pass.  

Manchin echoed the concerns of other D.C.-area Democrats, who argued in a Washington Post op-ed piece last month that metro D.C. already has two other nearby airports including Dulles International Airport and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), which both have bigger perimeters than Reagan.  

In a joint letter to lawmakers obtained by Punchbowl News Sunday, the CEOs of Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines expressed similar opposition to the changes.  

The House of Representatives is expected to consider the reauthorization of the FAA this week.  

(NEXSTAR) - Airfare prices have decreased over the last year, but flying can still carry a hefty price, prompting anyone to look for a deal. There is one popular hack, however, that you may want to avoid. 

According to the latest U.S. Consumer Price Index, airfare decreased roughly 8% in June, continuing a downward trend seen since April. While promising, prices are still about 5% higher than they were before the pandemic.

If you’re a bargain hunter and are hoping for a deal on your next flight, you may have come across advice to skip lag.

While the name might be a bit confusing, the practice isn’t. Essentially, instead of booking a direct flight, you find a cheaper flight that has a layover at your destination.

The “hack” has other names, including hidden city ticketing and point beyond ticketing. 

You’ll most likely find those in any airline’s conditions of carriage. That includes American Airlines, Delta, United, and Frontier, all of which prohibit hidden city ticketing. 

Airlines, both domestic and abroad, have been cracking down on skip lagging in recent years.

In one instance, German carrier Lufthansa brought a lawsuit against a passenger for hidden city ticketing, aviation attorney Bruce Brandon recently told Nexstar’s WJZY. Though they later dropped the case, it caught the attention of many. 

Years earlier, the website Skiplagged.com was launched. In 2014, founder Aktarer Zaman told CNN the site directed travelers to the best deals while exposing “inefficiency” in airline prices. 

Technically, hidden city ticketing isn’t illegal. But, as mentioned above, doing so is considered a violation of your airline’s conditions of carriage. The consequences of hidden city ticketing may vary. 

According to the conditions of carriage above, airlines could refuse to let you fly, potentially permanently; charge you for what a ticket not booked “fraudulently” would have cost; require you to reimburse the airline for the compensation they provided; or cancel unused portions of your ticket. 

Earlier this month, a North Carolina teen was detained and forced to purchase a new ticket with American Airlines after a gate agent became skeptical of his itinerary: a flight from Gainesville, Florida to New York City, with a layover in Charlotte. 

The teen’s father told WJZY they’ve used Skiplagged.com before without any issue, and his son was expected to arrive in Charlotte and skip the rest of the planned flight. American Airlines said in a statement that while hidden city ticketing is a violation of its terms and conditions, they are investigating why the teenager was detained. 

Even Skip Lagged warns there may be consequences of hidden city ticketing, like your checked luggage moving on to the final destination instead of where you stop or losing frequent flyer miles you’ve accrued. The site also warns against “overusing” hidden city ticketing.

If you are looking for a deal on air travel that won’t get you in trouble with the airline, experts recommend using points accrued on a credit card or working with a travel agent. Also, despite many travelers swearing by a certain day or time being the cheapest for booking a flight, that myth has been debunked. 

You can, however, save money by accepting layovers. Nonstop flights have been found to be 20% more expensive, on average.

Though it likely won’t make airfare much cheaper, President Biden promised to tackle “junk fees” earlier this year, which could have a direct impact on airline pricing. That includes requiring airlines to show you the full ticket price upfront, rather than waiting until after fees have been applied, and refunding your money if your flight is canceled or delayed. The Department of Transportation has also launched a dashboard to show which airlines will let families sit together at no extra charge.

Alix Martichoux contributed to this report.

The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department said in a tweet that its fire units were responding to a derailed Amtrak train in the tunnel at the entrance to Union Station, which serves as a transportation hub for Amtrak trains, metro trains and buses in the D.C. area.

The department said that the initial report was "minor in nature," and there were no reported injuries in the occupied train.

Vito Maggiolo, spokesperson for D.C. Fire and Emergency  Medical Services, said in a statement to The Hill that the department received the call at about 9:11 a.m., and responders arrived to find the two front cars of the train derailed.

“Firefighters were sent into the tunnel and boarded the train to check on the condition of the passengers and provide a calming presence,” he said in a statement. “We found the only patient was an Amtrak employee who suffered a minor medical emergency and was transported to an area hospital.”

He said that the passengers were moved to the railcars that were not impacted. Maggiolo noted that the derailed cars were uncoupled and the remainder of the cars were taken to L’Enfant Station, where additional responders were waiting to assist passengers from the train and escorted passengers to a nearby Holiday Inn for “further rest and cooling.”

An Amtrak spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill that the Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 86 derailed about 8:47 a.m. Tuesday as it was “traveling at a low speed in the tunnel south of Washington Union Station.” The spokesperson noted that the train remained upright, and one employee was “transported for evaluation” after the initial report said there were no injuries on board.

“Amtrak staff immediately responded alongside local first responders to assist customers onboard the train, as well as those waiting to board at Washington Union Station,” the spokesperson said. “All customers from Train 86 were transported to the L’Enfant VRE station and provided alternate transportation to Washington Union Station.”

The spokesperson added that the crew will be inspecting the area and will be working to re-rail the lead locomotive and coach car.

Amtrak issued a service alert Tuesday about 9 a.m. saying trains operating between Washington and Alexandria, Va., were halted due to the incident.

"Trains operating between Washington D.C and Alexandria are stopped due to a disabled train in the tunnel blocking the tracks south of Washington," the alert stated. "Rail service in and out of Washington is currently impacted. Delays are expected. We will update as more information becomes available."

This is not the first time an Amtrak train derailed outside of Union Station. In 2018, the D.C. Fire and EMS Department helped nearly 200 passengers off an Amtrak train that had derailed outside the station.

A spokesperson for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) told The Hill that its personnel is on-site to do an initial evaluation, but said it is  “too soon to say if this morning's incident meets the threshold for a formal FRA investigation.” The National Transportation Safety Board told The Hill that it would not be conducting an investigation.

Updated at 3:47 pm.

Implementation of one of the six new proposals, designed to deal with capacity increase on the transportation system, could cost anywhere from nothing to about $50 billion and could take up to 10 to 20 years to complete, according to officials.

Metro recently completed the Silver Line, which cost $3 billion and took nearly 60 years to come to fruition. 

Metro is also headed into its next financial year with a $750 million operating deficit. Officials said the possible expansions, however, are necessary to increase system reliability.

“Running three lines through one tunnel and set of tracks creates challenges for Metro and our customers, including crowding during peak periods, service reliability issues, a lack of operational flexibility, and threats to long-term sustainability,” officials said in a presentation.

(KRON) — A Southwest Airlines flight (#3316) from Las Vegas to Maui was diverted to Oakland on Monday after photos suggesting a bomb was on board were sent to a flight attendant, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

The images were sent to the flight attendant using Apple's "AirDrop," according to ACSO.

Oakland Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airport Police Services evacuated the plane once it touched down in Oakland. All of the plane's passengers and their luggage was searched, and no explosive materials were found, per ACSO.

The plane later continued to its intended destination in Hawaii.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident, ACSO said. The FBI has an investigation ongoing.

Southwest Airlines sent the following statement regarding the diversion:

"We can confirm flight 3316 on Monday afternoon diverted to Oakland from its intended path, Las Vegas to Maui, and later continued on to Maui. We’d defer additional questions to local authorities who met the aircraft.

We place no priority higher than Safety and we’re grateful for patience and understanding during this delayed journey to Hawaii."

The plan announced Thursday incorporates measures that help the trucking industry meet California's emissions requirements while enabling the state to simultaneously reach its climate goals, according to those involved.

In striking this compromise, the state averts a potential legal battle with major truck manufacturers, who have long been challenging California’s unmatched emissions requirements as technologically and economically unfeasible.

“Today, truck manufacturers join our urgent efforts to slash air pollution, showing the rest of the country that we can both cut dangerous pollution and build the economy of the future,” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a statement.

The Clean Truck Partnership, a joint initiative of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, includes the industry’s biggest players: Cummins Inc.; Daimler Truck North America; Ford Motor Company; General Motors Company; Hino Motors Limited Inc.; Izuzu Technical Center of America Inc.; Navistar Inc.; Stellantis N.V.; and Volvo Group North America.

Among the terms of the agreement is a commitment on CARB’s part to align with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2027 regulations for nitrogen oxide emissions — regulations that are less stringent than those promoted by California.

The EPA’s rule, cemented in December, aims to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent by 2045 — a weaker rendition of a previous version that would have cut this type of pollution by about 60 percent in the same period.

In 2020, California's regulatory body adopted first-of-their-kind rules that sought to expedite the transition of diesel trucks and vans to zero-emission models and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Through these measures, 40 percent of tractor trailers, 55 percent of small trucks and 75 percent of heavy trucks and vans sold in California by 2035 would need to be zero-emission. But already by 2024, 5 percent of trailers, 5 percent of small trucks and 9 percent of heavy trucks would need to meet such standards.

The Golden State, which typically leads other states on pollution regulation, had applied to the EPA for a special waiver to enforce these rules because the Clean Air Act prohibits states from implementing their own emissions standards.

Members of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association have vehemently opposed California’s request, stressing that while they “support a program that can be a successful bridge to a zero-emission commercial vehicle future,” that plan “is not technologically feasible.”

As part of the deal announced Thursday, California's regulatory body has agreed to modify elements of its 2024 nitrogen oxide emission regulations, while manufacturers will provide offsets to maintain the state’s emission targets.

CARB also committed to providing no less than four years of lead time and at least three years of regulatory stability before imposing the new requirements.

“This agreement makes it clear that we have shared goals to tackle pollution and climate change and to ensure the success of the truck owners and operators who provide critical services to California’s economy,” CARB Chairwoman Liane Randolph said in a statement.

For their part, truck manufacturers agreed to meet the state regulator's zero-emission and pollutant standards within the state, regardless of any attempts by other entities to challenge California’s authority.

Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, on Thursday touted his organization’s “longstanding commitment to reducing emissions” and the potential to “work together to achieve shared clean air goals.”

“Through this agreement, we have aligned on a single nationwide nitrogen oxide emissions standard, secured needed lead time and stability for manufacturers, and agreed on regulatory changes that will ensure continued availability of commercial vehicles,” Mandel said in a statement.

— Updated July 7 at 10:05 a.m.

A record number of Americans are expected to travel during this weekend, with a projected 4.17 million travelers flying to their destination. The nearly 2,500 delays come as the airline industry is trying to shake off a series of delays and cancellations originally spurred by poor weather over the past week. 

Only about 130 flights have been cancelled within, into or out of the United States so far Saturday as of early afternoon, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. 

The busiest travel day of the weekend was Friday, but massive crowds will continue through the holiday on Tuesday. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen about 17.7 million passengers between June 29 and July 5. 

Severe weather cancelled and delayed hundreds of flights on the East Coast earlier this week as intense thunderstorms and strong winds prevented departures over a few days. But scheduling issues continued past the effects of the weather, and some airlines have blamed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for poor staffing levels. 

United Airlines has suffered more delays and cancellations than any other airline, with more than 3,000 flights canceled in the past week. Only about 50 of the airline's flights have been canceled on Saturday, but more than 300 have been delayed. 

United CEO Scott Kirby said in a memo to staff that the FAA “failed us” last weekend, and 150,000 travelers were affected by the staffing shortfalls. JetBlue also said it had trouble keeping its schedule on time because of limits on air traffic coming into and out of New York airports. 

The effects of wildfire smoke spreading across parts of the country coming from Canada could also further affect holiday travel this weekend.

Cancellations and delays have been widespread for the past week with severe and intense weather stretching across the East Coast. Strong thunderstorms and high winds prevented many departures the past few days, which then created a chain reaction of additional delays and cancellations. 

More than 250 flights within or coming in or out of the United States have been canceled as of early Friday morning, and more than 1,200 have been delayed, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. 

United Airlines has been hit the hardest in the past week, with about 3,000 flights canceled since Saturday. That includes 500 flights Thursday and about 200 more by 10 a.m. Friday. 

United CEO Scott Kirby blamed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the continuing issues. He said in a memo to employees Monday that the FAA “frankly failed us this weekend” with poor staffing levels. He said the company estimates that 150,000 travelers using United were impacted because of staffing shortages and the agency’s ability to manage air traffic. 

He said the FAA cut arrival rates by 40 percent and departure rates by 75 percent Saturday, putting “everyone behind the eight ball” when the weather arrived Sunday. 

JetBlue told The New York Times that it struggled to keep its schedule on time because air traffic control limited trips for airlines into and out of New York airports. 

The FAA told the Times that it did not have any staffing issues on the East Coast Monday or Tuesday and will work with anyone “seriously willing to join us to solve a problem.” 

Kirby said in the memo that FAA leaders are not to blame, as the staffing issue has been ongoing for years since before they came into their roles. 

A report from the Transportation Department released last week found that 20 of the country’s 26 most critical airport facilities were understaffed below the agency’s 85 percent threshold as of March 2022. 

AAA expects record levels of travel during the July Fourth holiday weekend, surpassing highs set in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A company spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that the company began informing some salaried employees that their jobs will be cut in the following weeks. 

The spokesperson also told the media outlet that managers informed employees that layoffs were coming in meetings on Monday, asking the affected teams to work from home for the rest of the week. 

The Hill has reached out to Ford for comment and more information. 

The news comes nearly a week after initial reports of another round of layoffs happening at the company. The latest cuts impacted employees who worked in the company’s electric vehicle (EV) and software division, as well as thsoe who work in Ford’s gas-engine side of the business. 

Ford also had a round of layoffs last August, cutting about 3,000 white-collar and contract employees. The company announced in January that it was starting to cut 3,800 jobs in its European departments. 

General Motors and Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, also announced layoffs of their workforce earlier this year.

Ford expects to lose $3 billion in operating profit on its EVs business in 2023, the Journal reported.

More than 850 flights within, coming into or coming out from the United States have been canceled, while nearly 1,800 have been delayed as of late morning. That includes more than 150 flights canceled and more than 60 delayed from Newark International Airport in New Jersey, more than 70 canceled and more than 40 delayed from LaGuardia Airport in New York and nearly 40 canceled and more than 70 delayed from Boston’s Logan Airport. 

The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said in a post on its website on Tuesday that a front extending from the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic to the Southeast will move toward the East Coast and stall overnight Tuesday. 

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a “marginal” risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic through Wednesday morning, but the threat of “excessive” rainfall will decrease somewhat on Wednesday. 

Several airports announced that they are being hit with flight disruptions on Tuesday because of weather, including Newark and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. 

JFK had 80 delays and more than 20 cancellations as of Tuesday morning, according to FlightAware. 

Strong storms have caused intense damage as they have moved across the country in recent days. At least three were killed and thousands lost power after the storms hit multiple states and spawned multiple tornadoes on Sunday.

The organization said in a Tuesday release the 50.7 million people expected to travel 50 miles or more would surpass the record of 49 million people traveling in 2019. AAA also projects records for the number of people traveling by car, with 43.2 million expected to do so, a 2.4 percent increase from last year. 

“We’ve never projected travel numbers this high for Independence Day weekend,” said Paula Twidale, the senior vice president of AAA Travel, in the release. “What this tells us is that despite inventory being limited and some prices 50% higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer. Many of them heeded our advice and booked early, another sign of strong travel demand.” 

The release states air travel is also expected to break a record with 4.17 million passengers flying to their destinations, up 11.2 percent from 2022. The record of 3.91 million travelers was set in 2019. 

The percentage of people choosing to travel by air this year is also the highest in almost 20 years at 8.2 percent. 

The release notes that gas prices have dropped considerably from where they stood a year ago. It states the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $4.80 on July 4 last year, but it has remained between $3.50 and $3.60 in recent months. 

The release states that INRIX, which records transportation data and provides insight, expects Friday to be the busiest travel day of the weekend. Average travel times are expected to be 30 percent above normal. 

INRIX said people traveling that day should leave in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest traffic. 

AAA is considering the holiday weekend to be from Friday through Tuesday.

In addition to bad weather, a technology failing also contributed to to airline disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly paused operations at Washington, D.C.-area airports Sunday evening due to a problem with the communications system at a major air traffic control facility. Departures resumed after repairs were completed.

Beyond D.C., a chain of flights were also delayed or halted at other major travel hubs — including New York, Chicago and Atlanta — as thunderstorms moved across the country.

Nearly 2,000 U.S. flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday combined, according to flight tracking service FlightAware, and more than 1,400 U.S. flights had been canceled as of 2:45 p.m. ET Monday. Thousands of additional travelers experienced delays.

Staying calm — and knowing your rights — can go a long way if your flight is canceled, experts say. Here’s some of their advice for dealing with a flight cancellation:

MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELED. WHAT NEXT?

If you still want to get to your destination, most airlines will rebook you for free on the next available flight as long as it has seats, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If you want to cancel the trip, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you bought non-refundable tickets. You’re also entitled to a refund of any bag fees, seat upgrades or other extras.

Kurt Ebenhoch, a consumer travel advocate and former airline spokesperson, has stressed that travelers are eligible for a refund, not just vouchers for future travel. If you do take a voucher, make sure you inquire about blackout dates and other restrictions on its use.

CAN I ASK TO BE BOOKED ON ANOTHER AIRLINE’S FLIGHT?

Yes. Airlines aren’t required to put you on another airline’s flight, but they can, and sometimes do, according to the DOT. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, previously recommended researching alternate flights while you’re waiting to talk to an agent. Agents are typically under a lot of pressure when a flight is canceled, so giving them some options helps.

Ebenhoch also suggested looking for alternative airports that are close to your original destination.

IS THE AIRLINE REQUIRED TO GIVE ME A HOTEL ROOM, OR OTHER COMPENSATION?

No. As announced last month, the Biden adminstration is seeking to require that airlines compensate travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the carrier's control — but, as of now, each airline still has its own policies about providing for customers whose flights are canceled, according to the DOT.

Many airlines do offer accommodations, so you should check with their staff. The DOT also has an online dashboard that allows travelers to compare cancelation and delay policies of major carriers.

I’M FACING A LONG WAIT TO REBOOK. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If someone in your traveling party is at a higher level in a frequent flier program, use the number reserved for that level to call the airline, Ebenhoch said. You can also try calling an international help desk for the airline, since those agents have the ability to make changes.

HOW CAN I AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE?

Ebenhoch said nonstop flights and morning flights are generally the most reliable if you can book them. If you’re worried about making it to the airport in time for a morning flight, he said, consider staying at a hotel connected to the airport the night before. And consider flying outside of busy dates.

Klee recommended comparing airlines’ policies on the DOT’s service dashboard. He also suggests reserving multiple flights and then canceling the ones you don’t use, as long as the airline will refund your money or convert it into a credit for a future flight.

ARE FLIGHT CANCELATIONS TRENDING LOWER IN 2023?

Flight cancellations trended lower throughout the spring of 2023 than last year, according to data from the FAA.

Industry officials argue that carriers have fixed problems that contributed to a surge in flight cancellations and delays last summer, when 52,000 flights were nixed from June through August. Airlines have hired about 30,000 workers since then, including thousands of pilots, and they are using bigger planes to reduce flights but not the number of seats.

Still, officials warn of lingering staffing shortages, notably among key air traffic controllers. The FAA is training about 3,000 more controllers, but they won’t be ready for this summer's travel. The agency resorted to nudging airlines to reduce flights in the New York City area this summer, and it opened 169 new flight paths over the East Coast to reduce bottlenecks.

In a government audit published last week, the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General found that the FAA has made “limited efforts" to have adequate staffing at critical air traffic control facilities, noting that the agency “continues to face staffing challenges and lacks a plan to address them, which in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations.”

Outlining the funds on a press call last week, an administration official said 700 of the buses will be zero-emission — a category that is often electric. 

The official said an additional 610 buses will have “low or no” emissions, while 400 will be “traditional” buses and about 14 will be powered by hydrogen. 

The Federal Transit Administration did not respond to follow-up questions by The Hill asking for additional details on the “traditional” and low-to-no emissions buses.

The funds announced Monday, which will also go toward other programs like workforce training, come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This is the second slate of bus grants announced by the Biden administration under the law. 

So far, the law has invested $3.3 billion in buses and bus infrastructure, and nearly $5 billion more is expected over the next three years. 

The funds were touted by officials as good for the economy and environment. 

“Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.