During his Thursday press conference about the deadly Wednesday collision between a passenger jet and military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested there was a link between the tragedy and diversity hiring policies at the Federal Aviation Administration.
A midair collision near D.C. has raised concerns over FAA staffing, prompting scrutiny of air traffic control and aviation safety oversight.
The president's comments upset some disability advocates, including the Philadelphia advocacy group Vision For Equality.
Initiatives aimed at expanding the workforce existed under President Trump's first term, including a program that aimed to recruit and train qualified individuals with disabilities, including veterans,
President Donald Trump on Thursday took executive action to address FAA hires and aviation safety after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet in D.C.
President Trump appointed Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year FAA veteran, as acting administrator of the agency.
While that office may be ready to go to work, the FAA itself is not fully on the job. That’s because it’s without an administrator. Michael Whitaker, who had led the administration since Oct., 2023, stepped down earlier this month,
President Donald Trump on Thursday blasted the Federal Aviation Administration's DEI standards at a press conference addressing Wednesday night's deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C.
Trump offered no evidence that diversity hiring practices contributed to the fatal plane and helicopter collision.
Trump said he didn't know what caused the crash but "we have some very strong opinions and ideas."
It appears that the first major air disaster in the U.S. since 2009 has occurred while the Federal Aviation Administration does not have a permanent leader.