President Donald Trump has followed through on his promise to slash jobs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), even as a wave of deadly air crashes has rocked the nation.
Despite growing concerns over aviation safety, his administration fired hundreds of probationary FAA employees late Friday, just before the Presidents Day weekend.
Mass Layoffs During a National Aviation Crisis
The timing of these firings has raised alarms across the industry. Within just a few weeks, multiple air disasters have claimed dozens of lives:
- January 29 – A U.S. Army helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines passenger jet over Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.
- Early February – A regional flight in Alaska disappeared, later discovered to have crashed, leaving ten dead.
- February 10 – An air ambulance went down in Philadelphia, killing seven.
- February 14 – A small plane lost control on a Scottsdale, Arizona runway, colliding with another aircraft and killing one person.
Even as these tragedies unfold, Trump’s administration has pressed forward with mass terminations at the FAA, a move experts warn could further endanger public safety.
Aviation safety specialists have condemned the decision. David Spero, national president of The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), called it “dangerous” and “unconscionable” given the recent string of air disasters.
“Staffing decisions should be based on an agency’s mission-critical needs,” Spero told CNN. “To do otherwise is reckless when it comes to public safety.”
FAA employees reported that their termination notices arrived via an anonymous “exec order” Microsoft account instead of an official government email.
Many now fear they won’t even be allowed back into FAA buildings after the holiday weekend.
Upon returning to office, Trump signed an executive order titled “Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation.” This order eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies in aviation while mandating performance reviews of employees in “critical safety positions.”
Since then, his administration has also dismissed:
- The TSA Administrator
- The Coast Guard Commandant
- Members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee
The FAA was already understaffed, with CNN previously reporting a shortage of 3,000 air traffic controllers.
Aviation professionals warn that deeper cuts could lead to severe delays, increased safety risks, and an overburdened system unable to handle growing demand.
Adding another twist, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested that Elon Musk’s DOGE team could play a role in modernizing air traffic control.
During an appearance on Hannity, Duffy claimed Musk’s approach would upgrade aviation “at the speed of business, not bureaucracy.”
“They are going to plug in to help upgrade our aviation system,” Duffy tweeted, a message Musk later reshared.
The announcement has triggered backlash, with many questioning whether private-sector interference in air traffic operations could compromise safety rather than improve it.
Trump’s FAA overhaul has left industry insiders uneasy.
A veteran air traffic controller, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, revealed that many of the dismissed employees were responsible for FAA radar, landing systems, and navigational aids—all critical to ensuring air travel safety.
There are also allegations that some firings may have been politically motivated.
Charles Spitzer-Stadtlander, a former FAA worker, claimed on LinkedIn that he was terminated shortly after criticizing Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), both owned by Musk.
He also alleges that DOGE officials harassed him on social media before his dismissal.
With the FAA struggling to maintain operations amid staffing shortages, the future of aviation safety is in question.
Experts warn that these cuts could have catastrophic consequences, with fewer trained personnel overseeing the skies.
As the nation watches closely, one unsettling truth remains: America’s air travel has never felt more uncertain.
Clark is a 26-year-old expert working for consumer protection, Clark has dedicated years to identifying and exposing fraudulent schemes. He is working with NGOs to help people who are victims of scams. In his free time, Todd plays football or goes to a bar.
