Hundreds of FAA employees are let go as Trump's mass layoffs continue
NBC3 days ago
Trump Administration Fires Hundreds of FAA Staff Amid Safety Concerns
Above: A United Airlines airplane lands at SFO in San Francisco, California On Feb. 7, 2025. Image copyright: Tayfun Coskun/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
The Trump administration initiated mass firings of several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees through late-night emails on Friday, targeting probationary workers including systems specialists, safety inspectors, and maintenance personnel.
The development comes just weeks after a fatal collision on Jan. 29 between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which killed 67 people and remains under investigation.
Among those terminated by the current administration were employees working on classified early warning radar systems for detecting cruise missiles, including personnel from the FAA's National Defense Program managing border detection systems.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
The mass firings compromise aviation safety by removing crucial technical expertise and increasing workload on an already stretched workforce. The timing is particularly dangerous following multiple deadly aircraft accidents, and the decision appears politically motivated rather than based on operational needs.
Republican narrative
These terminations represent necessary government efficiency measures to modernize and streamline federal operations. A SpaceX team will help develop a new, world-class air traffic control system, ensuring only the most qualified personnel guide aircraft.