Written by James Whitaker.
The Trump Administration dismissed roughly 300 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees over the weekend in an effort to cut down on wasteful spending and remove policies tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This move comes as part of a larger effort to restructure federal agencies and eliminate initiatives seen as unnecessary or harmful.
The firings were widely expected after reports surfaced that the administration planned to let go of FAA workers still in their probationary period. The affected employees received termination notices via email, with the messages originating from an ‘exec order’ Microsoft email address rather than an official .gov address. Notices reportedly began arriving after 7 PM ET on February 14 and continued into the night, with additional terminations possible over the weekend.
Union Pushback and Concerns Over Aviation Safety
David Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union, criticized the move, calling it reckless and irresponsible. He argued that the decision was made without regard for performance, conduct, or the FAA’s already dire staffing shortages.
“This decision did not consider the staffing needs of the FAA, which is already challenged by understaffing,” Spero stated. “Staffing decisions should be based on an individual agency’s mission-critical needs. To do otherwise is dangerous when it comes to public safety. And it is especially unconscionable in the aftermath of three deadly aircraft accidents in the past month.”
The union’s statement also pointed to the recent D.C. crash, along with two other fatal aviation incidents in the past few weeks, as evidence that cutting staff at this moment could further stress an already struggling system. Spero warned that many of those dismissed worked in roles essential to aviation safety, including maintenance mechanics, aeronautical information specialists, environmental protection specialists, aviation safety assistants, and management program assistants.
DEI Hiring Practices Under Fire
The FAA terminations follow reports that DEI hiring policies played a role in the deadly helicopter-plane collision near Reagan Airport. Whistleblowers within air traffic control claim that DEI initiatives led to unqualified personnel being hired and that the FAA’s controversial “immunity program” shielded those responsible from accountability.
Critics of DEI policies argue that prioritizing diversity over merit can lead to dangerous inefficiencies, particularly in high-stakes industries like aviation. They point to the D.C. crash as a wake-up call, warning that continued reliance on these policies could result in further tragedies. The Trump Administration’s move to eliminate these practices aligns with a broader effort to restore competency-based hiring within federal agencies.
Our Take
The decision to fire hundreds of FAA employees was long overdue. For years, DEI policies have crept into federal agencies under the guise of inclusivity, but the consequences are becoming too obvious to ignore. Aviation safety should never be compromised for political agendas, yet that’s exactly what’s been happening. When unqualified individuals are placed in roles that require precision and expertise, the risks become life-threatening.
The left will argue that these firings are heartless, but what’s truly irresponsible is allowing an understaffed, mismanaged FAA to operate under policies that prioritize diversity quotas over actual competence. The recent D.C. crash should have been a wake-up call. Instead, critics of these terminations are more worried about protecting bureaucratic inefficiencies than ensuring planes land safely.
President Trump’s decision to clean house is a step in the right direction. The public deserves a competent FAA that prioritizes safety above all else. Any system that tolerates incompetence under the banner of diversity is a system that needs to be dismantled.
