Trump froze air traffic control hiring days before Washington mid-air plane crash
Updated: Jan 31st, 2025
As Washington grapples with the aftermath of the fatal mid-air collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter, the crash — which took place on Thursday near Ronald Reagan National Airport — has put the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under intense scrutiny.
Interestingly, just days before the biggest tragedy of this year, Trump overhauled the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, removing the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard before their terms were completed.
As per an official release of the House Committee dated January 22, “The bipartisan FAA Reauthorisation Act of 2024 directs the Administration to hire the maximum number of air traffic controllers. That’s what the law says, so the Administration must rescind this ridiculous executive order,” Ranking Member Rick Larsen said.
President Trump froze the hiring of Air Traffic Controllers, among other safety-critical positions.
“Hiring air traffic controllers is the number one safety issue according to the entire aviation industry. Instead of working to improve aviation safety and lower costs for hardworking American families, the Administration is choosing to spread bogus DEI claims to justify this decision. I’m not surprised by the President’s dangerous and divisive actions, but the Administration must reverse course. Let’s get back to aviation safety and allow the FAA to do its job protecting the flying public,” the release added.
Just a week ahead of the deadly accident where over 60 passengers lost their lives, Steve Cohen had said, “Our top priority must be the safety of the flying public so an order freezing the hiring of air traffic controllers is a misguided decision and goes against the directives of our FAA Reauthorisation bill.”
“The aviation community will speak with one voice in condemning this short-sighted policy and reaffirm our commitment to hiring the critical personnel necessary for ensuring public safety,” he added.
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