DOJ official takes swipe at United Airlines CEO amid backlash over wealth tax proposal

United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby is under fire for backing a national wealth tax and inheritance levies approaching 100 percent, and a senior Justice Department official has now joined the criticism with a pointed remark about the carrier's service. Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, posted on X that the WiFi failed on her last two United flights, according to Fox Business.

Kirby laid out his views in an interview with The New York Times, saying he believes widening wealth inequality endangers American society. He argued that a tax imposed by individual states would fail because wealthy people would relocate, and he said he would personally pay the inheritance taxes he proposed. He also defended charging extra for window seats and other preferred seating, saying delivering them costs money.

Scrutiny has since turned to his own pay. According to United's 2026 proxy statement, he received about $32.3 million in total compensation for fiscal year 2025, roughly 334 times the $96,670 median for the airline's employees. Online, some people vowed to quit flying United, and others told him to worry about safety, fares and punctuality. One complained about $500 charges for short domestic trips.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox Business’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox Business →