Republicans are lining up to criticize Biden Transporation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, accusing him of remaining silent following one of the worst rail disasters in recent history.
On Feb. 3, a train carrying highly toxic chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, catching fire and spilling contents, creating massive environmental fallout. But while federal and state emergency agencies respond, Buttigieg has been largely silent, Republicans say.
“Officials decided to evacuate all residents within one mile of the crash and initiated a controlled burn of the chemicals to mitigate the risk of an explosion; five train cars of vinyl chloride, a carcinogen that can contaminate water supplies, was released into the atmosphere in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke that were visible in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania,” the Daily Wire reported.
But on Monday at the National Association of Counties Conference, Buttigieg didn’t speak about the rail disaster but instead urged attendees to work with contractors and community colleges “to build a workforce that reflects the community,” Fox News reported.
“We have heard way too many stories from generations past of infrastructure where you got a neighborhood, often a neighborhood of color, that finally sees the project come to them, but everyone in the hard hats on that project, doing the good paying jobs, don’t look like they came from anywhere near the neighborhood,” Buttigieg said.
He went on to claim that the country could reduce wealth gaps by “tearing down those barriers” on the delivery level.
Fox News noted further:
Throughout Monday’s conference, Buttigieg failed to mention the train carrying vinyl chloride, a dangerous colorless gas, and operated by the transportation company Norfolk Southern Railroad, which derailed in Columbiana County, Ohio on Feb. 3.
The National Guard was activated to assist residents with the evacuation and block people from getting close to the wreckage. At the same time, officials attempted to do a controlled burn on the toxic debris. The controlled burn of the toxic chemicals sent phosgene, a highly poisonous gas used as a weapon in World War I, into the surrounding area.
“Pete Buttigieg has finally emerged today. Not a single comment about the train crash in Ohio,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said on social media. “Instead, he bemoaned the whiteness of the construction industry. It’s a miracle that this country is able to function at all under this regime.”
Pete Buttigieg has finally emerged today.
Not a single comment about the train crash in Ohio.
Instead, he bemoaned the whiteness of the construction industry.
It’s a miracle that this country is able to function at all under this regime.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) February 13, 2023
Time to call in @PeteButtigieg for questioning for what is happened to the great people of Ohio train derailment & toxic chemical spill! The media won’t talk about this ecological disaster/public health crisis, but I will – and we *will* get answers People’s lives are in danger!” noted Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.)
Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) also noted: “An ecological DISASTER is happening in America. 50+ train car derailment in East Palestine, OH 200-mile-wide toxic rain cloud Polluted the water source of 5 million people 10 days have passed and Pete Buttigieg hasn’t said a word.”
“The recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio is nothing short of a tragedy,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) remarked. “This is another transportation failure under Mayor Pete’s leadership. Where is he?”
The recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio is nothing short of a tragedy.
This is another transportation failure under Mayor Pete's leadership.
Where is he? https://t.co/WR6Lq5dtfs
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) February 13, 2023
“Democratic officials also criticized Buttigieg for his alleged failure to prevent mass delays and cancellations at Southwest Airlines, which induced holiday travel difficulties for thousands of passengers, less than one month before the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights nationwide due to a system outage,” the Daily Wire noted further, citing Buttigieg’s record as Transportation chief.
“Buttigieg most recently faced backlash over the Biden administration’s handling of the Chinese surveillance balloon that was allowed to traverse the entire continental United States, including missile silos and other sensitive assets.”
