The Steady Drip

FAA Eyes Palantir AI to Modernize Air Traffic Control (Connecting the Dots: Palantir, The New York City Police Department (NYPD), U.S. Military, The Center for a New American Security, Pershing Square Capital Management, Benghazi, Clintons & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

By Solange Reyner | Monday, 27 April 2026 02:36 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/us/faa-palantir-air-traffic-control/2026/04/27/id/1254351/

The Trump administration is considering using Palantir's artificial intelligence tool for air traffic control as some of the nation's aging aviation systems begin to fail, Bloomberg reports.

"We are going to revolutionize our air traffic management by modernizing our software, moving to a centralized, cloud-based system that will use artificial intelligence to predict air traffic flows and adjust departure times to resolve conflicts," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Palantir, a U.S.-based tech company that builds data analytics platforms for governments and businesses, is competing with Thales SA and Airspace Intelligence Inc. for a contract to develop SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories), an AI system that would extend air traffic conflict prediction from 15 minutes to two hours.

Palantir confirmed in a statement to investors that it has been contracted by the FAA to "provide a data analytics tool that will help advance the agency's modernization objectives for aviation safety."

The FAA has received $12.5 billion from Congress to begin modernizing the nation's air traffic control system but says it will need roughly $20 billion more to complete the overhaul.

"They're going to have to find a pathway to get us the rest of that money," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last week at DOT headquarters, according to Roll Call.

"It's going to take time to develop, deploy, debug, and train on it," Duffy said. "But if we start now, by the time infrastructure upgrades are complete, the software should be ready within two and a half years, giving America a brand-new system."

Duffy also confirmed the government is working to integrate AI into air traffic management, telling CBS News the system could identify congestion weeks in advance and adjust flight times by minutes to prevent delays.

Connecting the Dots:
Ray H. LaHood was the secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Barack Obama administration and his counselor was Kathryn B. Thomson.

Kathryn B. Thomson was Ray H. LaHood’s counselor, the chief counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, is married to Christopher P. Lu and Secretary of Transportation, Maryland (March 20, 2026 - Present).

Christopher P. Lu is married to Kathryn B. Thomson, the White House cabinet secretary for the Barack Obama administration and a litigation associate at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the Center for American Progress, the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Madeleine K. Albright was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Center for American Progress, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a director at the Center for a New American Security.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

U.S. Air Force was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Army was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Coast Guard was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Department of Defense was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Marine Corps was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Navy was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Arnold L. Punaro is an advisory board member for the Center for a New American Security and was a major general for the U.S. Marine Corps.

John R. Allen is a director at the Center for a New American Security and was a general for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Gregory S. Newbold was a director at the Center for a New American Security and a lieutenant general for the U.S. Marine Corps.

U.S. Army was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Navy was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Richard J. Danzig is the director & former chairman for the Center for a New American Security and was the secretary for the U.S. Navy.

Dennis C. Blair was a director at the Center for a New American Security, a national intelligence director for the Barack Obama administration and an admiral for the U.S. Navy.

Robert O. Work was the CEO for the Center for a New American Security, the deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense and the undersecretary for the U.S. Navy.

Janine Davidson is a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and was the deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Kurt M. Campbell is the chairman & co-founder for the Center for a New American Security and was a deputy assistant secretary for Asia for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Bob Butler is a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and was a deputy assistant secretary for cyber policy for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Derek H. Chollet was a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a special assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration and the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Colin H. Kahl is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and was a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Richard L. Armitage was a director at the Center for a New American Security and an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Michele A. Flournoy is the CEO for the Center for a New American Security and was the under secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense for the Barack Obama administration.

William J. Lynn was a director at the Center for a New American Security and the deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense for the Barack Obama administration.

U.S. Department of Defense was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

William J. Perry was a director at the Center for a New American Security, the secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense and is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Human Rights Watch.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a benefactor for the Human Rights Watch.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Human Rights Watch.

Karen Ackman is a director at the Human Rights Watch and married to William A. Ackman (Bill).

William A. Ackman (Bill) is married to Karen Ackman and a managing member for Pershing Square Capital Management, LP.

Pershing Square Capital Management, LP was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

Bloomberg LP was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of Bloomberg LP, was the New York (NY) mayor and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Madeleine K. Albright was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a co-chairman for the Albright Stonebridge Group the founder of the Albright Group LLC and a director at the Center for a New American Security.

Richard R. Verma was a counselor for the Albright Stonebridge Group and an advisory board member for the Center for a New American Security.

Albright Group LLC was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

John D. Podesta was a director at the Center for a New American Security, the campaign chairman for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, a temporary CEO for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, is the founder of the Center for American Progress, a director at the ClimateWorks Foundation and Anthony T. Podesta’s brother.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was a co-chair, national finance council for the Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary), the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the ClimateWorks Foundation.

Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary) supported the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Anthony T. Podesta was a fundraiser for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, is an advisory board member for the Center for a New American Security and John D. Podesta’s brother.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

Norman R. Augustine was a director at the Center for a New American Security and a trustee at In-Q-Tel.

Michael G. Mullen is a trustee at In-Q-Tel and was the vice chairman of review board that investigated the 2012 attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2013.

In-Q-Tel is an investor in the Palantir Technologies Inc.

William J. Perry was a director at the Center for a New American Security, a director at In-Q-Tel and the secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense and is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

U.S. Department of Defense was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Aspen Institute (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

Thomas R. Pickering was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), the chairman of review board that investigated the 2012 attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2013, a U.S. ambassador for Russia, and an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Madeleine K. Albright was a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Center for American Progress, a director at the Center for a New American Security and a Secretary for the U.S. Department of State for President Bill Clinton.

Center for a New American Security was a contributor for the Palantir Technologies Inc.

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a special representative for global partnerships for the U.S. Department of State.

James A. Baker III is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Richard L. Armitage is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Esther Brimmer is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

R. Nicholas Burns is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Richard R. Burt is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Kenneth W. Dam is a lifetime director for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Paula J. Dobriansky is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an undersecretary - democracy & global affairs for the U.S. Department of State.

Stuart E. Eizenstat is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Robert S. Gelbard is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Robert D. Hormats is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Reuben Jeffery III is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

James L. Jones Jr. is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a special envoy for Middle East Security for the U.S. Department of State.

Henry A. Kissinger is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Thomas R. Nides is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a deputy secretary of state for the U.S. Department of State.

Carlos Pascual is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a special envoy, international energy affairs for the U.S. Department of State.

Thomas R. Pickering is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Colin L. Powell is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Condoleezza Rice is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was the secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

George P. Shultz is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

William H. Taft IV is a lifetime director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a legal adviser for the U.S. Department of State.

Ellen O. Tauscher is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a special envoy for strategic stability & missile defense for the U.S. Department of State.

Melanne Verveer is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an ambassador-at-large for global women's issues for the U.S. Department of State.

Peter Bass was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

William J. Burns was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Warren Christopher was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a secretary of state, secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Chas. W. Freeman Jr. was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a principal deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Janet G. Mullins Grissom was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Marc Grossman was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an undersecretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Alexander M. Haig Jr. was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Richard C. Holbrooke was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a special envoy to Afghanistan, Pakistan, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

William A. Nitze was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Torkel L. Patterson was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Susan E. Rice was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Rozanne L. Ridgway was a co-chair for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an assistant secretary of state for Europe & Canada for the U.S. Department of State.

Stanley O. Roth was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Anne-Marie Slaughter was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director of policy planning for the U.S. Department of State.

James B. Steinberg was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

John C. Whitehead was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of State.

Open Society Foundations was a funder the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

R. James Woolsey is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was the under secretary for the U.S. Navy.

Sean O'Keefe is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), was the comptroller & CFO for the U.S. Department of Defense and the secretary for the U.S. Navy.

Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was an admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Herbert M. Allison Jr. was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Charles F. Wald is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Air Force.

Brent Scowcroft is the chair, international advisory board for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a friend of Henry A. Kissinger and was a lieutenant general for the U.S. Air Force.

Joseph W. Ralston is a general director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Air Force.

Richard L. Lawson is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Air Force.

John A. Gordon is a general director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Air Force.

Michael P.C. Carns was a general director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a general in the U.S. Air Force.

Anthony C. Zinni is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Carlton W. Fulford Jr. is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and was a general in the U.S. Marine Corps.

James L. Jones Jr. is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), was the supreme allied commander – Europe for NATO, the commander, U.S. European Command for the U.S. Department of Defense, the national security adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a general in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Arnold L. Punaro is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a major general in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Daniel W. Christman is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army.

Wesley K. Clark is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), was the supreme allied commander – Europe for NATO and a general in the U.S. Army.

Chuck Hagel is the chair for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense and was a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

George A. Joulwan is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Army.

Barry R. McCaffrey is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Army.

Robert W. RisCassi was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a general in the U.S. Army.

Eric K. Shinseki was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a general in the U.S. Army.

Carl E. Vuono is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a general in the U.S. Army.

Togo D. West Jr. is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), was the general counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense and the secretary for the U.S. Army.

Madeleine K. Albright was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Center for a New American Security and a Secretary for the U.S. Department of State for President Bill Clinton.