"Air Traffic Controllers Claim, 'We Are Essential for Their Work'"
The Trump administration has justified its reductions at the Federal Aviation Administration by stating that safety-critical employees were not impacted. However, experts dispute this claim.
TroibNews 
The initial wave of firings ordered by the White House at the Federal Aviation Administration included personnel vital to maintaining air travel safety, despite assurances from the Trump administration that no "critical" staff had been dismissed.
According to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, over 130 of the terminated employees were involved in roles that directly or indirectly support air traffic controllers, facilities, and technology critical to the FAA's operations designed to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft. This raises serious concerns regarding the impact of the layoffs, especially as the initial dismissals did not include air traffic controllers.
Concerns regarding air safety in the U.S. have heightened following a tragic incident on January 29, in which a passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities.
"I would argue that every job at the FAA right now is safety critical," stated Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety consultant and former official at the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. He emphasized that these cuts "certainly [are] not going to improve safety — it can only increase the risk."
Among those let go was an aeronautical information specialist, one of a team of 12 responsible for creating air maps, also known as "highways in the sky," which are crucial for guiding aircraft safely. "Air traffic controllers cannot do their work without us," the former employee remarked in a Wednesday interview, expressing concern that the administration did not fully grasp the essential nature of their roles and suggesting the layoffs were made without a proper understanding of their significance.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that fewer than 400 probationary employees were laid off, but neither his agency nor the White House has disclosed the specific positions affected. He and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt focused on the message that no air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel lost their jobs. "Here's the truth: the FAA alone has a staggering 45,000 employees. Less than 400 were let go, and they were all probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago," Duffy wrote in a recent social media post, echoing Leavitt's earlier statement that no critical safety professionals were terminated.
Duffy further defended the administration's actions in a Fox News opinion piece, dismissing media coverage as misleading and reinforcing that no controllers had been dismissed. The Department of Transportation and FAA have not responded to requests for comments regarding the firings.
Despite reassurances from officials, Guzzetti and representatives from PASS have expressed that the consequences of these terminations could quickly affect an aviation system already facing challenges, including a shortage of controllers and outdated equipment. The dismissed employees included mechanics, data assistants, aeronautical information specialists, and staff responsible for ensuring that airlines complied with FAA guidelines.
An industry source, who spoke anonymously, noted that cuts also affected the FAA's Air Traffic Organization’s safety and technical training division, critical for reviewing safety data and identifying risks within the aviation system. This division is also studying issues related to controller fatigue.
Another source pointed out that some of those let go at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City typically contributed expertise for investigations, such as a recent Delta Air Lines incident in Toronto, where an aircraft flipped over upon landing in snowy conditions.
The Flight Standards division, which monitors compliance with FAA regulations, also saw staff reductions. Guzzetti expressed concern that firings in this area would overburden remaining staff, who are already managing strenuous oversight responsibilities.
Congressional reactions have largely fallen along party lines in response to the layoffs. Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz supported the administration's stance, noting that those terminated represented a small fraction of the FAA's workforce. Conversely, Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the FAA to reverse the layoffs, insisting this was not the time to lose staff dedicated to ensuring aviation safety.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the cuts, stating she had requested information on those terminated but had not received details. Following this, Duckworth sent a letter demanding clarification about the necessity for the sudden cuts and any analyses done to ensure safety would not be compromised.
In a letter signed by Sen. Ed Markey and 12 other senators, the Trump administration was warned that these actions could undermine years of progress in aviation safety. The senators highlighted the invaluable expertise of dedicated employees and cautioned against significant workforce reductions.
Sen. Maria Cantwell echoed concerns, emphasizing the need to retain personnel vital to aviation safety at this critical juncture.
One termination notice reviewed indicated that the firing was performance-based, with vague language stating no right to appeal under grievance procedures. A former FAA employee mentioned they had been classified as probationary despite having been in a similar role for three years prior as a contractor. They noted that the workload would now fall to nine employees instead of the original 12, arguing that the FAA charting office should ideally operate with around 20 staff members. The former employee urged Secretary Duffy to recognize the importance of the roles affected by the layoffs and to rectify this situation.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
According to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, over 130 of the terminated employees were involved in roles that directly or indirectly support air traffic controllers, facilities, and technology critical to the FAA's operations designed to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft. This raises serious concerns regarding the impact of the layoffs, especially as the initial dismissals did not include air traffic controllers.
Concerns regarding air safety in the U.S. have heightened following a tragic incident on January 29, in which a passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities.
"I would argue that every job at the FAA right now is safety critical," stated Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety consultant and former official at the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. He emphasized that these cuts "certainly [are] not going to improve safety — it can only increase the risk."
Among those let go was an aeronautical information specialist, one of a team of 12 responsible for creating air maps, also known as "highways in the sky," which are crucial for guiding aircraft safely. "Air traffic controllers cannot do their work without us," the former employee remarked in a Wednesday interview, expressing concern that the administration did not fully grasp the essential nature of their roles and suggesting the layoffs were made without a proper understanding of their significance.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that fewer than 400 probationary employees were laid off, but neither his agency nor the White House has disclosed the specific positions affected. He and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt focused on the message that no air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel lost their jobs. "Here's the truth: the FAA alone has a staggering 45,000 employees. Less than 400 were let go, and they were all probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago," Duffy wrote in a recent social media post, echoing Leavitt's earlier statement that no critical safety professionals were terminated.
Duffy further defended the administration's actions in a Fox News opinion piece, dismissing media coverage as misleading and reinforcing that no controllers had been dismissed. The Department of Transportation and FAA have not responded to requests for comments regarding the firings.
Despite reassurances from officials, Guzzetti and representatives from PASS have expressed that the consequences of these terminations could quickly affect an aviation system already facing challenges, including a shortage of controllers and outdated equipment. The dismissed employees included mechanics, data assistants, aeronautical information specialists, and staff responsible for ensuring that airlines complied with FAA guidelines.
An industry source, who spoke anonymously, noted that cuts also affected the FAA's Air Traffic Organization’s safety and technical training division, critical for reviewing safety data and identifying risks within the aviation system. This division is also studying issues related to controller fatigue.
Another source pointed out that some of those let go at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City typically contributed expertise for investigations, such as a recent Delta Air Lines incident in Toronto, where an aircraft flipped over upon landing in snowy conditions.
The Flight Standards division, which monitors compliance with FAA regulations, also saw staff reductions. Guzzetti expressed concern that firings in this area would overburden remaining staff, who are already managing strenuous oversight responsibilities.
Congressional reactions have largely fallen along party lines in response to the layoffs. Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz supported the administration's stance, noting that those terminated represented a small fraction of the FAA's workforce. Conversely, Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the FAA to reverse the layoffs, insisting this was not the time to lose staff dedicated to ensuring aviation safety.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the cuts, stating she had requested information on those terminated but had not received details. Following this, Duckworth sent a letter demanding clarification about the necessity for the sudden cuts and any analyses done to ensure safety would not be compromised.
In a letter signed by Sen. Ed Markey and 12 other senators, the Trump administration was warned that these actions could undermine years of progress in aviation safety. The senators highlighted the invaluable expertise of dedicated employees and cautioned against significant workforce reductions.
Sen. Maria Cantwell echoed concerns, emphasizing the need to retain personnel vital to aviation safety at this critical juncture.
One termination notice reviewed indicated that the firing was performance-based, with vague language stating no right to appeal under grievance procedures. A former FAA employee mentioned they had been classified as probationary despite having been in a similar role for three years prior as a contractor. They noted that the workload would now fall to nine employees instead of the original 12, arguing that the FAA charting office should ideally operate with around 20 staff members. The former employee urged Secretary Duffy to recognize the importance of the roles affected by the layoffs and to rectify this situation.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
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