Story perspectives

FAA Gets $5B Supplemental Funding for Software Upgrades

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received $5 billion supplemental funding for software upgrades.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy invited Peter Thiel, Palantir chair, to aid the FAA after Elon Musk’s DOGE failed.
Palantir lost the $875 million SMART contract to Air Space Intelligence, a Boston startup formed by four ex-Palantir staff.
On August 6, Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center lost radar and communications for two hours, affecting over 1,100 flights.

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Story summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received $5 billion supplemental funding for software upgrades.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy invited Peter Thiel, Palantir chair, to aid the FAA after Elon Musk’s DOGE failed.
Palantir lost the $875 million SMART contract to Air Space Intelligence, a Boston startup formed by four ex-Palantir staff.
On August 6, Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center lost radar and communications for two hours, affecting over 1,100 flights.