Trump Blames DEI for Plane Crash Amid Reports of Understaffed Air Traffic Control

A recent preliminary investigation into a fatal crash between an American Airlines commercial jet and a military helicopter on Wednesday evening has disclosed that the air traffic control tower near the crash site was operating below standard staffing levels. Typically, this demanding role is covered by two individuals, but at the time of the accident, only one controller was on duty.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) detailed in a Thursday report that staffing was “not normal for the time of day and traffic volume.”

The lone controller was tasked with managing helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while simultaneously directing incoming and outgoing flights at the airport.

According to The New York Times, air traffic controllers utilize different radio frequencies to communicate with helicopter and airplane pilots. The report from the Times highlighted a critical communication gap: “While the controller is communicating with pilots of the helicopter and the jet, the two sets of pilots may not be able to hear each other.”

In recent years, air traffic controllers have faced increased work hours and weeks due to budget cuts and high turnover rates. As of 2023, the air traffic control tower near Washington, D.C., employed 19 fully certified controllers, though both the FAA and the controllers’ union recommend a staff of 30 for optimal operation.

This FAA report surfaced shortly after former President Donald Trump offered an unsubstantiated theory at a press briefing that the crash, which claimed 67 lives, was due to the Biden administration’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in FAA hiring practices, focusing specifically on “hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.”

When questioned by a reporter if he was implying that the crash was a direct result of these diversity hiring practices, Trump responded, “It just could have been,” asserting that his administration held “a much higher standard than anybody else” for federal employment.

Government Executive noted that the FAA’s DEI hiring initiatives began in 2013, continuing through the first Trump administration.

No details have been disclosed about the identity of the air traffic controller overseeing the flight paths during the incident. Similarly, American Airlines has not released any personal information regarding its aircraft’s pilot; however, it was reported that the Army helicopter was manned by one male and one female pilot, with a male staff sergeant also aboard.

Trump expressed confidence that DEI hiring practices contributed to the crash, citing his “common sense.”

Critics, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have pointed out several recent actions by Trump that could potentially compromise air travel safety. “Trump gutted the aviation safety committee last week,” the congresswoman stated. “Air traffic controllers—already understaffed—received Trump’s ‘buyout’ this week with a one-week ultimatum to decide. It’s not DEI—it’s him.”

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) also highlighted last week that Trump’s federal hiring freeze could exacerbate the problem of understaffing among air traffic controllers. “Hiring air traffic controllers is the number one safety issue according to the entire aviation industry,” Larsen remarked. “Instead of working to improve aviation safety and reduce costs for hardworking American families, the administration is choosing to propagate unfounded DEI claims to justify this decision. I’m not surprised by the president’s dangerous and divisive actions, but the administration must reverse course.”

On Thursday, Larsen extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the crash and urged caution against speculation about the causes of aviation accidents before the facts are fully known. “However, I know it’s not DEI because it never is,” Larsen added. “The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the causes and contributing factors of this accident. It is important to allow the NTSB to complete its work before considering any potential policy responses.”