Josh Gottheimer, currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing New Jersey’s 5th district, has expressed his concerns through a series of tweets regarding airline operations and air traffic control staffing. Born in Livingston, New Jersey, in 1975, Gottheimer replaced Scott Garrett in Congress in 2017 and resides in Wyckoff.
On May 9, 2025, Gottheimer addressed the issue of flight cancellations at Newark Airport. He emphasized that “Finally, all airlines at Newark need to get ahead of cancellations and flight changes, to give people more notice and flexibility on rebookings and refunds until this problem is solved.” He highlighted the inconvenience faced by families waiting at gates for extended periods.
In another tweet from the same day, he called for an increase in air traffic controllers. He urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expedite the certification process for military combat controllers interested in transitioning to civilian roles. He stated “Second, it’s clear we need more air traffic controllers. I’m calling on the FAA to fast-track military combat controllers who want to become FAA-certified air traffic controllers.”
On May 10, 2025, Gottheimer commented on an incident involving Mayor Baraka and others related to Delaney Hall. He expressed disapproval of their alleged intimidation or arrest. In his tweet, he mentioned “Mayor Baraka, whose city includes Delaney Hall, & our congressional delegation should not have been intimidated or arrested yesterday.” He reiterated his opposition to using private prisons as immigrant detention facilities under current administration policies.
