### Buttigieg Rebuts Musk's Misleading Claims on Federal Aid for Hurricane Helene

Elon Musk used his expansive social media presence on X to disseminate false conspiracy theories about federal emergency agencies and disaster workers. In response, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg directly addressed Musk on Friday, using Musk's own platform in an effort to correct the misinformation about federal disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene victims.

"Musk's follower count exceeds 200 million on X, giving him considerable influence," noted Buttigieg. He wrote, "No one is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn't block legitimate rescue and recovery flights. If you're encountering a problem, give me a call." This was a direct response to Musk's erroneous post alleging that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was blocking airspace and hindering flights carrying supplies to storm-affected areas.

FAA spokesperson also clarified the situation to CNBC, asserting that "There are no airspace restrictions in place in North Carolina as rescue efforts continue because of Hurricane Helene. Pilots looking to come into Asheville or Rutherford airports need to reach out to the airport for permission to land. The FAA is working with local authorities to ensure rescue efforts happen safely."

Musk didn't stop at the FAA; he also targeted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with claims that the agency is not only inadequate in its disaster response but actively obstructing citizens who are trying to provide help. This message, shared among Musk's extensive followers, follows his pattern of spreading several unfounded theories about federal emergency personnel while many rely on these agencies for emergency aid after Helene's impact.

Former President Donald Trump, now using his social media platform Truth Social, amplified Musk's unfounded statements about FEMA and FAA to nearly 8 million of his followers.

Meanwhile, Musk's company SpaceX and its satellite internet service brand Starlink announced plans to send around 500 Starlink kits, funded by private donations, to assist in the Helene recovery efforts. Starlink internet service has also been offered free for 30 days in heavily affected areas, coinciding with FEMA's dispatch of Starlink terminals to bring internet access to remote regions struck by the storm.

Musk's critique of FEMA follows a series of confrontations with other federal agencies, including a threat to sue the FAA and attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency for penalizing SpaceX. These disputes highlight a complex relationship between Musk's businesses and the federal government, from which SpaceX gains billions of dollars in revenue and Tesla benefits from federal loans, tax breaks, and other incentives.

For those impacted by Hurricane Helene, FEMA assistance remains accessible through their mobile app, the DisasterAssistance.gov website, or their hotline.