The administration of United States President Donald Trump has initiated a controversial mass firing campaign targeting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), raising concerns about the safety and efficiency of US air travel. The firings, which include employees focused on radar, landing, and navigational maintenance, come just weeks after a fatal midair collision over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC. Hundreds of probationary workers at the FAA have been dismissed, exacerbating existing staffing challenges within the agency.
The FAA, responsible for overseeing an average of 45,000 flights daily, faces increasing scrutiny as its workforce remains thinly stretched and under-resourced. Insiders have long warned about the agency's staffing issues, a situation highlighted by the tragic collision between a passenger jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter on January 29. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft, sparking a national debate over the safety of US air travel. On that fateful day, one air traffic controller was tasked with managing both commercial and helicopter flights around the busy airport.
"Draconian action will increase the workload and place new responsibilities on a workforce that is already stretched thin." – PASS union
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union expressed deep concern over the administration's decision to fire FAA probationary employees without cause or performance justification. They reported that several hundred employees received messages from an unconventional ‘exec order’ Microsoft email address rather than an official government email.
"We are troubled and disappointed by the administration’s decision to fire FAA probationary employees PASS represents without cause nor based on performance or conduct." – Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union
The firings began with messages sent after 7 PM ET on February 14 and continued late into the night. The exact content and implications of these messages remain unclear, further fueling anxiety among aviation professionals.
"Messages began arriving after 7pm ET on February 14 and continued late into the night." – Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union
In response to these firings, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a visit by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory panel led by billionaire Elon Musk, to FAA headquarters on Monday. The visit aims to assess the current air traffic control system and explore opportunities for modernization.
"Get a firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their current tools, and envision how we can make a new, better, modern and safer system." – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
