Vice President JD Vance has defended President Trump’s assertion that the plane collision incident in Washington, D.C. is linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During a Fox News interview, Vance claimed that these DEI policies led to a shortage of capable air traffic controllers, suggesting they prevented hiring the most qualified candidates. Yet, this view is countered by aviation leaders who emphasize that air traffic controller qualifications are unrelated to race, attributing staffing issues instead to the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on training and hiring practices.
"The president made very clear that he wasn't blaming anybody...DEI policies have led our air traffic controllers to be short staffed," said Vance.
"Elimination of DEI hires will allow the FAA to hire the air traffic controllers that we need," Vance argued.
"The standards to be certified as an air traffic controller are not based on race or gender," stated Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy cited COVID-19 as a major factor affecting hiring and training, without linking DEI to staffing issues.
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