About 400 recently hired support staff employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were dismissed over the weekend as part of a broad effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union, which represents thousands of FAA and Defense Department employees, confirmed the terminations.
The move comes just weeks after a tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which claimed 67 lives, the incident has placed increased scrutiny on air traffic control operations and staffing levels.
The fired employees were all on probationary status, meaning they had been hired or promoted within the last year, their roles included administrative and logistical support for FAA technicians, environmental compliance, aeronautical information services, maintenance, and mechanics.
PASS President David Spero revealed that termination notices started arriving on Friday evening and continued late into the night, however, essential aviation personnel, including FAA technicians, aviation safety inspectors, and air traffic controllers, were exempt from the firings.
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Despite this exemption, Spero warned of serious consequences. “While the administration claims aviation safety will not be directly affected, losing these crucial support staff members leaves a massive gap in our operations,” Spero told USA TODAY.
The mass firings are part of Trump’s broader initiative to shrink government agencies, which is being spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly formed body led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
DOGE has been systematically cutting costs across various federal agencies, prompting concerns from labor unions and government officials about the long-term impacts on essential services.
Following the Jan. 30 air tragedy, Trump controversially linked the crash to diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring initiatives—without any evidence to support his claim. The administration has since ramped up its federal workforce reduction strategy.
In response to concerns over air traffic management, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that members of Musk’s SpaceX team will visit the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia on Monday. Their mission is to review operations, engage with controllers, and explore ways to modernize the system for greater efficiency and safety.
Duffy denied allegations of favoritism toward Musk’s team, stating that private firms and media frequently tour FAA facilities.
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“My door at @USDOT is open to any and all patriotic developers or companies committed to ushering in America’s golden age of travel,” Duffy wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
As of now, the FAA has not issued an official statement regarding the dismissals. Aviation experts and union leaders remain concerned about the potential impact on flight operations and safety as critical support positions remain vacant.
