'Terrible Idea': Republicans Criticize Trump's Floated Bailout for Spirit Airlines

TIME
by Callum Sutherland
April 23, 2026
5 min read

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The Bottom Line

Republican lawmakers are criticizing President Trump's floated plan for a multimillion-dollar bailout of Spirit Airlines.

How This Affects You

If the government provides a bailout, taxpayer dollars could be used to fund a private company that has filed for bankruptcy twice.

AI Summary

President Donald Trump’s interest in a multimillion-dollar bailout for Spirit Airlines has prompted concern among several Republican lawmakers. Reuters reported the Trump Administration is nearing a deal for up to $500 million in government-backed funding for Spirit, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a second time last August. This potential federal government intervention in a private-sector company has sparked debate among lawmakers, with critics like Senator Ted Cruz calling it an "absolutely terrible idea." Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene and several sitting Republican senators, including Tom Cotton and Mike Lee, have also voiced strong opposition, questioning the use of taxpayer dollars and the government's ability to run a failed airline. Even within the administration, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy has urged against what he called "dumb investments," querying why the government would buy Spirit if no one else wants to.

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