Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is calling out the Trump administration for its decision to fire hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees while a series of troubling plane crashes continue to raise concerns about air safety.
The latest incident occurred yesterday when a Delta Air Lines flight, originating from Minneapolis, crashed upside down in Toronto, catching fire. Although all 80 passengers survived, 18 were injured in the crash. This follows a military aircraft crash near San Diego last week, where two pilots managed to eject before the plane plunged into the bay.
The Delta crash is the most recent in a string of aviation incidents that have sparked serious safety concerns. On January 29, a tragic collision between a military helicopter and American Eagle Flight 5342 near Reagan National Airport killed 67 people. Since then, at least three more crashes have occurred, including a small plane accident in Arizona that killed at least one person, a commuter flight in Alaska that claimed 10 lives, and an incident at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport where one plane sliced through another while taxiing.
Amid these incidents, the Trump administration’s decision to lay off hundreds of FAA workers has intensified public scrutiny. The FAA, which is responsible for overseeing air safety, reportedly began firing employees late last week. According to David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, the employees who received termination notices were involved in critical FAA services, including radar, landing, and navigational aid maintenance. Spero also emphasized that the firings were not linked to performance or conduct issues, further raising questions about the rationale behind the decision.
Buttigieg, who served as Transportation Secretary under President Joe Biden, has been outspoken in his criticism of the move. In a post on Bluesky, he demanded more transparency about the firings. “The flying public needs answers,” Buttigieg wrote. “How many FAA personnel were just fired? What positions? And why?”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) also voiced strong concern, calling the firings “dangerous at any time,” particularly in the wake of the recent crashes. “Mass firings of FAA workers—at a time when they already have serious staffing problems—would be dangerous at any time,” Beyer said. “Musk and Trump doing this weeks after the deadliest crash in years is stupid beyond belief.”
A Growing Staffing Crisis at the FAA
The decision to lay off FAA employees comes at a time when the agency is already grappling with staffing shortages. According to Professor Don Moynihan, an expert in public policy, the firings are especially alarming given the recent accidents that have highlighted the agency’s understaffed and overburdened workforce. “Even after a bunch of accidents that highlighted FAA staffing shortages, they still went ahead and fired FAA staff,” Moynihan said. “They don’t know what they are doing.”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) echoed these concerns, with the union stating it was still analyzing the potential impact of the firings on air safety. Some of the terminated FAA workers had been involved in the development of a radar system designed to provide early warning of incoming missile threats for Hawaii, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. One employee who worked on the project expressed grave concern, stating, “This is about protecting national security, and I’m scared to death. And the American public should be scared too.”
Challenges in Air Traffic Control
The firings come as the FAA continues to struggle with recruitment challenges, particularly in the critical area of air traffic control. The agency has long faced difficulties in attracting and retaining air traffic controllers, and the staffing shortages have placed additional stress on the remaining workers, who are frequently required to work long shifts.
At the same time, aviation safety experts have warned that the cumulative effect of understaffing, combined with the recent firings, could jeopardize public safety. The lack of available personnel for critical maintenance and safety functions could have serious consequences as air traffic continues to increase.
Trump Administration’s Focus on DEI and Diversity Initiatives
While the aviation community grapples with these staffing and safety challenges, the Trump administration has been pushing back against diversity initiatives within the FAA. Former reality TV star and Fox personality Sean Duffy, who replaced Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary, downplayed the significance of the firings, claiming that no air traffic controllers or “critical safety personnel” had been let go. However, Buttigieg has called for greater transparency to understand the full scope of the layoffs.
In a broader move, the Trump administration has increasingly focused on blaming diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts for the recent aviation incidents. When asked about the American Eagle flight crash, Trump controversially attributed the accident to DEI initiatives, stating, “I have common sense, and unfortunately, a lot of people don’t.”
The tension between the Trump administration’s approach and the concerns raised by aviation safety advocates continues to grow, with many questioning whether the focus on DEI initiatives and staffing cuts is undermining efforts to address urgent safety issues in the aviation industry.
As the investigation into the recent plane crashes continues, the call for greater transparency and accountability grows louder. Buttigieg and other critics of the administration are demanding answers on the impact of these firings and what steps will be taken to ensure the safety of air travel in the months ahead.
For now, the flying public remains on edge, with safety concerns continuing to mount in the wake of these devastating crashes.
