The Trump Administration has commenced the dismissal of hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel responsible for maintaining crucial air traffic control infrastructure. The firings, initiated late on a Friday evening, coincide with the involvement of SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, in the design of a new air traffic control system.
The exact number of dismissed workers remains unknown, but the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union indicates that it primarily affects probationary employees. Significantly, the dismissals do not include air traffic controllers, who face persistent staffing shortages due to decades-long challenges.
According to David Spero, president of PASS, late-night emails were distributed on Friday, informing affected employees of their termination. The emails reportedly originated from an “exec order Microsoft email address” rather than official government accounts.
Galen Munroe, deputy director of public affairs at the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), has clarified that the dismissed personnel includes aviation technical system specialists, flight procedures team members, and engineers, among others.
Spero has emphasized that the terminations were made “without cause, performance, or conduct-based reasons.”
Despite demands from Congress for the FAA to address recurring near-miss incidents and modernize critical systems, experts allege that the agency has neglected to resolve known issues.
Nick Daniels, president of NATCA, expressed concern about the impact on aviation safety and the national airspace system. He stated, “It’s a sad day for those who dedicated themselves to aviation safety and public service, only to have their careers abruptly ended.”
The news follows a fatal mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. In the aftermath, Musk announced that Trump had authorized his DOGE team to implement “rapid safety upgrades” to the air traffic control system.
However, specific details of these upgrades have not been disclosed by Musk or Trump.
SpaceX representatives are scheduled to visit the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia on Monday to assess the current system, gather feedback from controllers, and explore the potential for a modern, enhanced system.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
