The Trump administration has fired hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, disrupting staffing at a critical time for air travel and raising concerns about aviation safety. The sudden firings, which reportedly began late Friday night, come just weeks after a deadly mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January.
According to David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union, affected employees received late-night emails notifying them of their termination. The notices, which reportedly came from a non-government “exec order” Microsoft email address, were sent to probationary employees across various FAA departments, including those responsible for radar, landing systems, and navigational aid maintenance.
An air traffic controller, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, confirmed that the firings hit technical staff but did not clarify how many air traffic controllers were affected. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) acknowledged the terminations in a brief statement, saying they were analyzing the impact on aviation safety, the national airspace system, and their members.
Spero warned that the firings may not be over, with more employees potentially facing termination over the long weekend or even being barred from entering FAA buildings on Tuesday.
This move comes as the FAA is already struggling with a shortage of air traffic controllers. Industry experts have long warned that low pay, grueling shifts, extensive training requirements, and mandatory retirements have left the U.S. air traffic control system overworked and understaffed. Additionally, a series of near-miss incidents at major U.S. airports in recent months has raised alarms about safety.
The timing of these firings, during a busy travel weekend and so soon after a fatal aviation accident, has drawn criticism from aviation experts and unions.
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