The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been targeted by a mass firing campaign, impacting personnel involved in critical areas such as radar, landing, and navigational maintenance, Al Jazeera reports.
The move coincides with ongoing efforts to reduce the federal workforce and comes amidst growing concerns about the safety of the US air traffic control system.
According to reports, hundreds of probationary employees were among those terminated at the FAA. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union expressed their “trouble and disappointment” over the dismissals, stating that they were not based on performance or conduct. The union also raised concerns about the unusual channels used to deliver termination notices.
The firings occur weeks after a fatal midair collision over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which claimed the lives of 64 civilians and three soldiers. The crash, involving a passenger jet and a military helicopter, has sparked debate about the safety of US air travel and the working conditions of air traffic controllers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory panel led by Elon Musk, would visit FAA headquarters to assess the current system and explore ways to modernize and improve air traffic control. The DOGE’s involvement is part of a controversial effort to access government data and reduce the federal workforce.
The FAA oversees approximately 45,000 flights per day, with a significant portion of global air traffic originating or arriving in the US.
