The Trump administration is speeding up its efforts to address a nationwide shortage of Air Traffic Controllers. 

Earlier this year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a push to hire 2,000 new controllers by the end of the year. 

Inside the Federal Aviation Administration’s Oklahoma City training site, there is cutting-edge simulation technology that gives trainees a real feel for working in the tower. 

According to the FAA, that technology cuts weeks off the time required for certification. Now, federal aviation officials say they’re on track to reach the goal of 2,000 new controllers by mid-September. 

‘Keying up, telling an aircraft to do something is not something that just comes natural to people…It’s learning that phraseology,’ explained Chris Wilbanks, the FAA’s Vice President of Mission Support. ‘It’s making sure that the pilot completely understands the instruction that you just gave him.’ 

Each trainee starts with a 30-day basics course, followed by six to eight weeks of specialized training in both tower and radar operations. 

You impact people’s lives,’ said Wilbanks. ‘They get on an airplane; they make it to their destination safely. They don’t know who got them there, but it’s you.’ 

The push for more air traffic controllers comes as staffing shortages caused delays earlier this year at busy airports such as Newark, New Jersey. 

‘We just put a brand-new simulation in Newark … We do have our problem spots out there. We keep our eyes on it every day,’ Wilbanks said. 

To help meet the demand, Transportation Secretary Duffy launched the Supercharge Initiative earlier this year. Part of that $12.5 billion boost to FAA infrastructure includes $100 million for training. 

July alone has seen the highest number of academy students in training in FAA’s history, with 550 students expected by the end of the month. 

The FAA reports it has shaved more than five months off the administrative process. Students who scored in the top percentile are now being placed into the academy more quickly. 

‘It’s going to take time to address the nationwide controller shortage, but I’m pleased to see our supercharge initiative is taking off. With our new streamlined hiring process, the best and the brightest candidates are starting their careers in air traffic control faster,’ said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in a newsletter sent to FOX early Friday. ‘We’ll continue to leverage opportunities big and small to keep chipping away at the shortage to keep our skies safe.’

President Donald Trump and his team are tackling the messy and bloody world we inherited with historic achievements. Through deftly negotiated truces in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, our recent agreement with NATO and the successful strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, the U.S. is now well positioned to win lasting peace. 

But despite this historic run, tremendous global challenges remain. Russia’s war against Ukraine goes on, and Communist China rattles sabers in the Pacific. 

President Trump needs his full diplomatic team in place, and the time has come to fill the gap at the United Nations with his chosen successor, my friend, fellow veteran, and former House colleague Mike Waltz.

In September, the U.N. will hold its 80th annual gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly in New York, and so that the United States is fully represented, the U.S. Senate should act swiftly to confirm Mike Waltz before their annual August recess.

Mike is the right man for the time we’re living in – and for an America First approach to foreign policy. As I see it, there are six major issues facing the U.N. that Mike will address during his tenure there.

First, the U.N. Security Council must refocus its central mission of settling disputes and brokering deals. No more progressive political signaling.

Second, the U.N. needs to reform its terribly ineffective and toothless ‘peacekeeping’ missions. These security forces sitting on their bases for decades aren’t making dangerous places any safer.

Third, we must counter China in standards-setting bodies. For too long, we have failed to push back on Communist China’s influence. Mike understands the need to be tough with the CCP and I know he will deliver on this front.

Fourth, it is time to dismantle the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and its $1.2 billion budget. Corruption pervades this sham agency. President Trump has not been shy about calling out other U.N. deficiencies. He pulled the U.S. out of the so-called Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization, and Mike will see to it that we do not engage with such insidious works on his watch.

Fifth, antisemitism itself must be stamped out at the U.N. For too long the corrosive hatred of the Jewish people has festered at the organization. Israel has a right to exist, a right to live free of fear and with peaceful neighbors. 

Finally, it is time to defund foreign aid programs not in line with President Trump’s America First agenda. Woke waste is rampant at the U.N. and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which I chair, has identified several ridiculous examples. Programs promoting ‘Gender sensitive approaches to addressing the Digital Information Disorder’ and ‘Being LGBTI in the Caribbean,’ for example, need to end and Mike will see that that they do.

Mike dedicated his life to national service. He’s a retired U.S. Army colonel and Green Beret who was awarded four Bronze Stars. He’s spent nearly three decades defending our country on the battlefield and serving the American people in the halls of power. 

The title of Mike’s 2014 book is ‘Warrior Diplomat,’ and at the U.N. it is his understanding of foreign policy that may be his greatest asset. Before joining the Trump administration, he was policy director for two secretaries of defense and was elected three times to Congress, where he served on the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, as well as the House China Task Force.

Mike is a seasoned operator, a principled America First conservative, and a skilled communicator who is unafraid to take America’s case directly to the world. Mike will be the president’s voice at the U.N. and will faithfully implement President Trump’s agenda while maintaining our historic ‘peace through strength’ philosophy that won the Cold War.

Earlier this year, in an executive order initiating a full review of U.S. involvement in the U.N., President Trump criticized the organization for being more eager to take ideological stances and back our adversaries than to tackle difficult global issues. 

Still, as the president signed the order, he repeated a sentiment he’s expressed frequently since 2017: ‘I’ve always felt that the U.N. has tremendous potential. It’s not living up to that potential right now.’ Realizing that potential will be a big part of Mike’s job as the president’s emissary.

For all its imperfections, the United Nations remains a forum for advancing American interests and challenging our adversaries on the world stage. At this time of global tension and conflict, we need someone smart, tested and clear-eyed representing us there. It’s time to confirm Mike Waltz.

In his 26th week back in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump is expected to make a ‘major announcement’ related to Russia, hold a meeting with the NATO chief, and join a summit in Pennsylvania as America’s race to lead the world on artificial intelligence continues. 

July 13 marks the one-year anniversary of the first assassination attempt on Trump during the 2024 presidential cycle. Trump spent the anniversary at his home in Bedminster, N.J., before traveling with first lady Melania Trump to the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in the Garden State. 

Trump returned to the White House on Sunday evening and is expected to have another whirlwind workweek. 

MEETING WITH NATO CHIEF

Trump will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this week following the U.S. president saying last week that the U.S. is selling weapons to its NATO allies for them to be passed along to Ukraine as it continues battling Russia. 

The NATO chief will be in Washington, D.C., on Monday and Tuesday, and will meet with Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to The Associated Press. Additional details on the meetings, however, have not yet been publicly released. 

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday that Ukraine can expect to see an influx of weapons. Russia first invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. 

‘In the coming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves,’ Graham said on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation. 

‘One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump. And you just watch, in the coming days and weeks, there’s going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table.’

Trump and Rutte most recently met in the Netherlands in June for a summit, where the NATO chief showed the makings of a blossoming friendship with Trump, including referring to Trump as ‘daddy’ for his handling of the Middle East. 

‘MAJOR’ RUSSIA ANNOUNCEMENT 

Trump teased last week that he would make a ‘major statement’ on Russia in the coming days as the NATO meetings prepare to kick off this week. 

‘I’m disappointed in Russia, but we’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks,’ Trump told NBC last week. 

‘I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,’ he added, without elaborating. 

Graham said in his interview on ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday that ‘a turning point regarding [the Russian] invasion of Ukraine is coming,’ as Congress works to impose new economic sanctions on Russia to help end the war. 

‘For months, President Trump has tried to entice [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to the peace table. He’s put tariffs against countries that allow fentanyl to come in our country, other bad behavior — he’s left the door open regarding Russia. That door is about to close,’ Graham said on Sunday. 

TRUMP HEADS TO ENERGY AND AI SUMMIT

Trump will head to Pittsburgh on Tuesday for Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Dave McCormick’s inaugural Energy and Innovation Summit hosted at Carnegie Mellon University. 

The event is slated to focus on the U.S. power grid, America bid to win the AI race against China, as well as promoting the Keystone State as an ideal resource to help power the country’s future with AI and energy. 

‘The United States needs to win the artificial intelligence fight. We have to stop China, and we have to win this war for dominance in AI. And the way you win the war for dominance in AI is to win the war for energy dominance. That’s why our focus is on producing more here in the United States,’ said Mike Sommers, CEO and president of the American Petroleum Institute who will attend the summit, told Fox News Business of the event. 

‘Over the course of the last few years, energy demand has only gone up by about 2.5% a year. In the next seven years, we expect that energy demand is going to go up by 25%. The question that policymakers have to answer is: ‘Where is that energy going to come from?’ We think it should come from the United States,’ Sommers added. 

The event is expected to attract protesters, with Carnegie Mellon’s president calling on the school community to continue its history of ‘constructively engaging’ with presidencies across the ‘political spectrum.’

‘We have a history of constructively engaging with the federal government and administrations across the political spectrum. We view these opportunities as consequential to elevating and advancing both Carnegie Mellon’s mission and impact, and we bring to those moments the full measure of our expertise, our values and our voice in service to the nation,’ school president Farnam Jahanian said in a letter previewing the event on Sunday. 

Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report. 

After more than two decades of serving in the U.S. Navy and building government systems, I have witnessed firsthand how millions of dedicated Americans work every day in service of their fellow citizens and the security of our democracy. I have also seen both the immense potential — and frustrating inertia — that plagues public service. An unrealized opportunity exists to connect the U.S. government’s critical missions with the transformative power of commercial technology. 

Consider this: of the world’s 10 largest companies by market capitalization, a staggering eight are American founded. This is no accident; it is a direct result of our nation’s unparalleled entrepreneurial spirit. The critical question, however, is whether our own government is prepared to harness this strategic asset.  

Instead of tapping this engine of innovation, the U.S. government is held captive by its outdated processes. Entrenched legacy vendors have dug their claws in, and this has led to a general resistance to change. As the saying goes, ‘it takes a while to turn a big ship around.’  

That rings true with actual warships and aircraft carriers, but it also applies to how government agencies resist adopting new tools that improve collaboration, efficiency and security. Instead, the U.S. government and its outdated procurement processes cling to existing technology platforms, such as Microsoft’s suite of products that have been compromised time and again by China, which also happens to be one of the company’s most significant business partners. 

Breaking the shackles of ‘vendor lock-in’ — where the government becomes overly reliant on specific vendors even if they underperform — is crucial for fostering a new era of innovation that benefits America. When a company or product fails to perform well in the commercial sector, it’s terminated immediately.  

In the public sector, the company is usually allowed to see out their multi-year contracts and when it’s finally time to negotiate a renewal, all is forgotten. A more competitive public sector landscape, welcoming innovators and startups, can provide fresh perspectives, specialized solutions, and the speed to address rapidly evolving challenges. 

This is not a unique approach. Other nations are adopting this model, attempting to gain an edge over America. For example, China launched a program in 2023, with 39 partners, including Alibaba Cloud and Baidu, to advance computing power and AI.  

Russia subsidizes companies implementing digital transformation; and Iran, despite sanctions, is investing significantly in AI research and building a sovereign AI ecosystem. Our adversaries recognize that commercial tools drive rapid progress and are actively breaking down barriers to catch up to American AI leadership. 

There are understandable reasons for hesitancy. For years, Silicon Valley has been closely associated with the ‘move fast and break things’ mantra, while the U.S. government has looked on with both envy (of the speed and efficiency) and concern (over potential impacts to its services). However, learning from the commercial mindset of agility and a relentless drive for improvement will help it to serve the American public better. The benefits? Reduced waste, greater efficiency and better taxpayer value.  

Nowhere is this approach more critical than in national security. The threats America faces are constantly evolving and leveraging emerging technology to do so. Maintaining our edge requires more than just incremental improvements; it demands continuous access to cutting-edge capabilities.  

Leveraging the R&D engines of American commercial innovation — in areas like AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and resilient infrastructure — is not just advantageous; it’s essential. If Washington fails to leverage this homegrown ingenuity, it does so at our national peril, especially as our adversaries work tirelessly to do just that. 

Other nations are adopting this model, attempting to gain an edge over America. For example, China launched a program in 2023, with 39 partners, including Alibaba Cloud and Baidu, to advance computing power and AI. 

Government agencies tasked with everything from defending the nation to delivering health services need to have immediate access to the latest advancements in AI and data analytics, and they can only do so by leveraging powerful commercial tools with a platform for continuous improvement — an asset for national security and public service. 

AI could be used to accelerate some of the government’s most notorious backlogs, such as the millions of immigration court cases, the accumulation in environmental reviews for energy projects, and pileups in programs like Social Security or Veterans Affairs healthcare. AI can analyze data at lightning speed, helping federal agencies and their partners deliver on mission-critical work at an accelerated pace.  

The urgent need for a more agile, efficient, innovative and secure government is too significant to ignore. This is a pivotal moment. By embracing the discipline, accountability, and innovative spirit of the commercial sector, the U.S. government can unlock new levels of performance and effectiveness. Change is hard. But as adversaries gain on America — or worse, overtake us — change is mandatory.  

President Donald Trump said the United States will be sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine while describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a leader who ‘talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening.’ 

Trump made the remarks as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is planning to meet with the president during a visit to Washington, D.C. Monday and Tuesday. Last week, Trump revealed a new NATO deal that would allow U.S. arms to flow to Ukraine through allied nations. 

‘I’m going to have a meeting with the Secretary General coming in tomorrow. But we basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military. And they are going to pay us 100 percent for them. And that’s the way we want it,’ Trump told reporters on Sunday. 

‘I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some. Because they do need protection. But the European Union is paying for it. We’re not paying anything for it. But we will send it, and it’ll be good news for us, we will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,’ Trump added in reference to Ukraine. 

‘Because Putin had really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening. It’s a little bit of a problem there, I don’t like it,’ Trump also said. 

Trump said last Thursday that under the new NATO deal, ‘what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons.’ 

The developments came after the Pentagon previously froze some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot missile interceptors and 155 mm artillery shells.  

The halt was driven by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby after a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles that showed dangerously low reserves, Politico first reported in early July. 

Then the Pentagon reversed course about a week later. 

‘At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,’ Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said. ‘Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.’ 

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall, Jasmine Baehr and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.