Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Thursday that he will offer veteran air traffic controllers incentives to stay as the air travel system is renovated and new recruits are trained. “I’m gonna make an offer to air traffic controllers to let them stay longer,

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during an interview that he plans to encourage air traffic controllers to keep working past the mandatory retirement age of 56, which he says would enhance safety.

U.S. air traffic controllers will be offered the opportunity to stay past their mandatory retirement age of 56, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Thursday in the wake of the Washington plane crash.

The new secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, appeared to walk back an enticement to retire, saying F.A.A. safety workers were exempt from the offer for federal workers.