As Trump Blames DEI for Plane Crash, Report Shows Understaffed Air Traffic Control
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report on
Thursday said the
staffing at the time of the crash was "not normal for the time of day and
volume of traffic."
One controller was instructing helicopters near Ronald
Reagan Washington National Airport while also directing planes landing at and
departing from the airport.
As The New York Times reported, controllers
use different radio frequencies to communicate with helicopter pilots and those
flying planes.
"While the controller is communicating with pilots of
the helicopter and the jet, the two sets of pilots may not be able to hear each
other," according to the Times.
Air traffic controllers have been forced to work longer
hours and workweeks in recent years, amid budget constraints and high turnover.
In 2023, the tower near Washington, D.C. had 19 fully
certified air traffic controllers. The FAA and the controllers' union say the
optimal number is 30.
The FAA report was released shortly after President Donald
Trump presented his own theory, without evidence, of why the
crash that killed 67 people happened.
Trump suggested at a press briefing that under the Biden
administration, the FAA had overseen a "diversity push" with a
"focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric
disabilities."
A reporter at the briefing asked whether Trump was saying
the crash "was somehow caused and the result of diversity hiring" and
called on him to offer evidence to support the claim.
"It just could have been," Trump said, adding that
his administration has "a much higher standard than anybody else" for
hiring federal employees.
Government Executive noted that the
FAA began diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring programs as early as
2013, which continued under the first Trump administration.
No identifying information has been reported about the air traffic controller who was handling the flight paths in question on Wednesday. American Airlines has also not released any personal information about who was piloting its aircraft; Army officials said the helicopter was piloted by one man and one woman, and a male staff sergeant was also on board.
Trump told reporters that he was confident that DEI hiring
practices played a role in the crash because he has "common sense."
But critics including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) noted that Trump has taken several
steps since taking office less than two weeks ago that could make air travel
more dangerous for Americans in the long term.
"Trump gutted the aviation safety committee last
week," said the congresswoman, referring to the Aviation Security Advisory
Committee. "Air traffic controllers—already understaffed—got Trump's 'buyout' this week with a
one-week ultimatum to decide. It's not DEI—it's him."
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) also warned last week
that Trump's federal hiring freeze could
worsen understaffing among air traffic controllers.
"Hiring air traffic controllers is the number one
safety issue according to the entire aviation industry," said Larsen at
the time. "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."
On Thursday, Larsen offered condolences for the families of
the victims in the crash, and cautioned against speculating "on the causes
of aviation accidents before we have the facts and the details."
"However, I know it's not DEI because it never
is," said Larsen. "The National Transportation Safety Board will look
at the causes and contributing factors of this accident. It is important to let
the NTSB complete its work before we consider any potential policy
response."
