In a recent press conference at the White House, it was apparent that substantial concerns with the deadly mid-air collision are still being directed anywhere but its actual source. Even though it remains uncertain who is at fault, President Donald Trump did not miss out on the opportunity to attack the Federal Aviation Administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
Trump stated, ‘While the cause of the crash may yet be unknown, we certainly have substantial opinions based on what we see.’ These words seemingly underscore the administration’s attempt to create an atmosphere of suspicion around FAA hiring practices rather than addressing the actual issue.
Issues in aviation system management cannot be solely attributed to staffing policies. Despite this, the president adamantly voiced disapproval towards hiring standards for air traffic controllers. ‘The bar for hiring in our aviation system needs to be high. This is no place for leniency,’ the president stated.
Trump made the audacious claim that hiring standards had been diluted during the period when he first left office. He conveniently assigned the blame to President Obama and his successor, Joe Biden, by referencing the FAA’s hiring website.
The president relayed seemingly exaggerated statements from the FAA’s website. Are we to believe that ‘partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism’ are all qualifiers for the role of air traffic controllers? Trump would have us believe so.
There is another side, however, to this narrative. The contested language had been a part of the FAA’s website for over a decade. Interestingly, it was also present during Trump’s tenure. But why let facts get in the way when there’s political points to score?
Since returning to office, Trump was quick to direct changes to the FAA’s hiring policy. He signed an executive order instructing the FAA to cease DEI programs with immediate effect. One might deem it an attempt to roll back progress.
The Air Traffic Controllers Union responded, pledging its commitment to work with the administration and Congress. ‘We will continue striving for the greatest safety measures to protect lives. Our workforce remains highly skilled and extensively trained for any scenarios,’ echoed the union.
On the other side of the aisle, criticism rose against Trump for his presumptuous statements. It seems he was quick to make conclusions even while the investigation was still in its early stages.
Sen. Maggie Hassan denounced Trump’s remarks. ‘The gravity of this situation cannot be reduced to ridiculousness. True leaders do not resort to externalizing blame,’ she said. A sentiment that seems to push back strongly against the president’s stance.
Trump went further to claim that the military personnel present during the incident should have somehow evaded the airliner. He argued that the soldiers in the Black Hawk helicopter had full capability to see and avoid the approaching aircraft.
It appears the president’s resolve is to pin any inconvenience on those least able to defend themselves. Despite the situation being far from clear, those under his administration find themselves under scrutiny instead.
Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board are still ongoing to determine the actual cause of the crash. As with any respectable inquiry, their interest is in facts, not in conjecture.
While those who seek the truth continue to work tirelessly, it’s unfortunate to witness the president more focused on confirming his pre-existing biases than on addressing the real issues at play.
It’s not about passing the buck on diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring practices. It’s about ensuring an accountable aviation system that serves faithfully to protect lives. The latter shouldn’t be lost in the former’s politicization.