The Trump administration is facing pressure to protect the federal aviation administration from further layoffs after hundreds of workers were fired over the weekend.
Job cuts were part of a government restructuring under Elon Musk, an adviser to President Trump, who leads the cost-cutting initiative.
Musk's team helped push through layoffs of thousands of workers across the government, including in the transportation sector. But at the same time, the department's secretary, Sean Duffy, asked Musk to help the company work across technology and transportation, spanning the institution's aging air traffic control technology.
The shootings were hit by the FAA, the country's best aviation safety agency, crashing several deadly planes across the country, including an air collision between an Army helicopter that killed 67 people on January 27th and an American Airlines plane. It happens when dealing with drops.
About 400 probation workers were “hired a year ago” — deputy in a social media post in response to criticism from his Democratic predecessor Pete Buttiguier, according to Duffy. It was reduced from the store.
“The Zero Air Traffic Controllers and key safety personnel have been let go,” Duffy writes.
The transportation department added in a statement that agents continue to hire and train air traffic controllers and air safety workers. However, union representatives say some of the fired employees served in key support roles.
The layoffs included around 300 workers, represented by the professional aviation safety professionals association. Later, Union People President Dave Spero and Connecticut Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for the Trump administration to halt additional workforce cuts at the agency.
The termination notice sent to employees said, “Dotfaa has not demonstrated that based on your performance, further employment at Dotfaa will be in the public interest.” .
Spero said he opposed the basis for the shooting. He said that while the loose-hearted workers did not include air traffic controllers and air safety inspectors, those who were let go were critical support and management staff who supported the safety officers.
Workers who were rejected included maintenance mechanisms and an aviation safety assistant, Spero said.
“They are not people in flight, but the rest of us can't do our job without them. That's the impact of losing these people,” he said.
Blumenthal wrote to Duffy on Wednesday, saying they pose a safety risk, calling for the shooting to be reversed.
“The recent series of aviation incidents have shaken up the safety of the Air Force and public trust in trusts placed in agencies placed on the FAA and the agency that is placed on the Transportation Agency to keep the air safe,” Blumental said. He said in the letter.
In addition to layoffs, unrest grew in the aviation industry after Musk's aerospace company SpaceX visited the FAA's Air Transport Command Center in Warrenton, Virginia. did. From the country's capital.
Representatives from Musk's team, the so-called government efficiency department, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a social media post on Sunday, Duffy said the visit will give a better understanding of the technical challenges faced by air traffic controllers as they will allow SpaceX team members to see the system in person. .
“The United States deserves safe and cutting-edge air travel, and President Trump has ordered that it provide a new world-class air traffic control system that will make the world's vy hope,” Duffy writes. “To do that, you need America's most cheerful and heartfelt advice.”
