Approximately 400 newly hired support staff employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were dismissed over the weekend as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping terminations of federal workers, according to the union representing the affected employees.
The firings come less than three weeks after a midair collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, which resulted in 67 fatalities and intensified scrutiny on air traffic controllers and their workload.
Like many others across federal agencies, the terminated FAA employees were probationary workers who had been hired or promoted within the past year.
The dismissed employees included personnel who assisted FAA technicians administratively and logistically, according to David Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), a union representing approximately 11,000 FAA and Defense Department employees who provide support to air traffic controllers.
Spero noted that environmental compliance workers, aeronautical information specialists, and maintenance mechanics responsible for grounds, roads, and facility upkeep were among those let go. He said termination notices began arriving at 7 p.m. on Friday and continued late into the night.
FAA technicians and aviation safety inspectors were exempt from the terminations, as were air traffic controllers, who are represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), a separate union.
Despite these exemptions, Spero emphasized that the loss of FAA support staff would have a significant impact.
JD Vance (Photo: Getty Images)
“By exempting those roles, the goal is to prevent any direct negative impact on aviation safety,” Spero told. “But removing all these other support personnel creates a massive gap in essential functions that enable front-line workers to do their jobs effectively. Without them, those on the front lines are severely handicapped.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a statement saying, “The FAA continues to hire and onboard air traffic controllers and safety professionals, including mechanics and other personnel who provide support. The agency has retained employees responsible for safety-critical functions.”
Following the Jan. 30 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, President Donald Trump partially blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring initiatives for the crash, despite presenting no evidence to substantiate the claim.
The widespread dismissal of probationary workers across federal agencies aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to dramatically shrink the federal government. These efforts are being led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has rapidly moved from agency to agency to implement budget cuts.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that members of Musk’s SpaceX team would visit the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia on Monday to review the air traffic control system, meet with air traffic controllers, and explore modernization strategies to enhance safety and efficiency.
Duffy, in a post on X, refuted claims that he was granting “special access” to DOGE and its team, noting that the FAA routinely provides tours of the command center to media and private companies.
“My door at @USDOT is open to any and all patriotic developers or companies eager to contribute to this incredible, game-changing mission for our country. I welcome input from any organization committed to ushering in America’s golden age of travel!” Duffy stated
