Pentagon Hotline Out of Service for Over Three Years: A National Security Nightmare
In a shocking revelation eliciting both alarm from national security experts and outrage from the American populace, it has been confirmed that the direct communication line between the Pentagon and the control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has been inactive since March 2022—marking over three years of disconnection. This unsettling information was disclosed by Franklin McIntosh, a senior official at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), during an oversight hearing led by Senator Ted Cruz, the current chairman of the Senate committee on aviation and transportation.
The exchange was brief yet damning. When Cruz queried:
“Is it true that the direct line between the Pentagon, air traffic control, and the DCA tower has been non-operational since March 2022?”
McIntosh’s answer was unequivocal:
“Yes, sir, that is correct.”
This revelation—concealed from the public throughout the Biden administration—is more than a mere technical oversight; it signifies a systemic failure and a serious lapse in the management of national airspace security. The hotline between the Pentagon and DCA serves as a vital component of defense communication protocols in Washington, D.C., one of the most strategically sensitive airspaces globally.
A Critical Lifeline Cut Off
This hotline is not an optional perk; it is essential for coordinating swift responses to aerial threats, unauthorized airspace intrusions, or potential hijackings near the nation’s capital. In a city housing the executive, legislative, and judicial leaders of the free world, every second counts.
A three-year outage of this direct communication line is not just a technical failure; it is a strategic catastrophe that has been willfully overlooked.
Biden and Buttigieg to Blame
FAA official Franklin McIntosh further confirmed that this critical issue was never adequately addressed by the Biden administration, including the tenure of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Both Biden and Buttigieg—whose credentials in national security have long been scrutinized—failed to rectify a crucial defense asset.
For over three years, neither the Biden White House nor Buttigieg’s Department of Transportation informed Congress or the American public about the outage. No press statements, no Pentagon alerts, no serious repair initiatives. A complete void of communication.
This raises a disturbing question: What other security lapses were concealed during this period? More alarmingly, were there incidents that went unaddressed due to this severed connection?
A Stark Contrast with Trump’s Administration
Since President Donald J. Trump resumed office in 2025, he has consistently asserted that “America’s security is non-negotiable.” This incident substantiates what many Americans have suspected: The Biden administration has prioritized political ideologies over the safety of its citizens.
During his first term, Trump focused on border security, military enhancements, and investments in cyber and air defense infrastructure. Such momentum was not sustained under Biden. Instead, Biden left a legacy of bureaucratic stagnation, neglect, and reckless disregard for security.
Trump’s leadership reinforced defense communication and protocol adherence. The contrast could not be starker.
Political Fallout and Demand for Accountability
Senator Ted Cruz has initiated a formal investigation into who permitted this critical hotline to remain offline without correction or disclosure. “It’s inconceivable that a key line of defense communication with the Pentagon remained broken in the heart of our nation’s capital. This is administrative treason by omission,” Cruz stated.
He has also called for public hearings involving McIntosh, senior FAA officials, and former Secretary Buttigieg to explain the inaction.
“This isn’t merely a technical failure; it’s a national betrayal,” emphasized Senator Josh Hawley, who supports the investigation.
What If There Had Been an Emergency?
Military analysts are already cautioning that if an event akin to 9/11 had transpired during these years, the ramifications could have been dire. “This line exists precisely to avert disaster. Without it, we’re navigating blindfolded,” remarked former Air Force intelligence officer Michael DeWitt.
In a nation that has expended billions on counterterrorism and defense mechanisms, allowing such a fundamental communication channel to remain inactive for so long is, at best, a national disgrace.
The American People Demand Answers
The news has ignited social media. Hundreds of thousands are voicing their outrage with the hashtag #PentagonHotlineFail, clamoring for accountability from those responsible. Many are advocating for a comprehensive audit of all defense communication systems inherited from the Biden administration to ensure no further hidden failures exist.
President Trump has already mandated a nationwide audit of critical inter-agency communications, reaffirming his commitment to “make America truly safe again.”
