The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, clarified on social media that no safety-critical positions were eliminated at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). His comments came amid concerns over staffing changes initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which had resulted in the firing of 132 FAA employees who were later reinstated.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Duffy addressed Representative Josh Gottheimer’s remarks following an on-ground collision incident involving American Airlines at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Duffy stressed that safety-critical roles within the FAA remain intact and criticized the spreading of unfounded fears regarding aviation safety. He also expressed hope for Gottheimer’s support for President Donald Trump’s initiative to develop a new air traffic control system.
President Trump had earlier expressed concerns about obsolete equipment and staffing issues at the FAA during a National Prayer Breakfast following a mid-air collision incident. Trump suggested that such incidents, while extremely rare, should motivate the development of a modernized air traffic control (ATC) system. He proposed working with key congressional leaders to advance legislation for this purpose.
Gottheimer, in response to being involved in the runway incident, attributed concerns about weakened aviation safety to recent staffing cuts at the FAA. Meanwhile, Representative Nick LaLota described the incident as a notable experience in his congressional tenure.
The issue of FAA staffing became a focal point after 132 probationary employees were dismissed by DOGE from what was noted as an unofficial .gov email account. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union criticized the decision, citing increased workload concerns. Ultimately, on March 17, the FAA reinstated these employees following a court ruling declaring DOGE’s actions unlawful, a decision praised by PASS President David Spero as beneficial for public safety and workforce morale.
