Since day one, the Trump administration has neglected air safety and targeted key federal aviation agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) for wrongheaded and dangerous budget cuts in order to fund more tax breaks for the rich and powerful.
Mass layoffs: Trump and Elon Musk offered air traffic controllers buyout offers and cut hundreds of jobs at the FAA, and the consequences have been disastrous.
Safety crisis: Trump’s second term has seen the deadliest plane crash since 2001, public confidence in air safety is dropping, and Newark Liberty Airport is facing air traffic conditions so severe that its primary hub airline is encouraging customers to fly to nearby airports instead.
Further cuts: But instead of addressing the situation, the DOT is cutting its workforce at the end of the month, and the FAA has ended an independent panel reviewing air traffic control operations.
Misplaced priorities: Donald Trump has always made it clear that his top priority is working to benefit himself and his wealthy friends at the expense of the American people – and airplane safety is no exception.
Timeline of Events
JANUARY 2025: Aviation Safety Targeted From Day One
• Leadership vacuum: FAA left without leadership after Administrator Whitaker resigned following pressure from Elon Musk
• Security undermined: Trump fired TSA leadership and dismantled the Aviation Security Advisory Committee on his first day in office
• Staffing crisis: Trump offered air traffic controllers buyouts despite existing nationwide staffing shortages
FEBRUARY 2025: Crashes Increase As Hundreds of Air Safety Jobs Cut
• Widespread cuts: Musk and DOGE eliminated hundreds of critical safety positions
• Warnings ignored: FAA insiders sounded alarms over safety concerns
• Safety compromised: Over 130 workers supporting air traffic safety lost their jobs thanks to DOGE cuts
• Deadly crashes: The U.S. experienced four major aviation incidents in a month, including its deadliest aviation disaster since 2001
• Confidence plummets: Public trust in air travel dropped 7% compared to previous year
MARCH 2025: Cuts Begin Affecting Air Traffic Operations
• Operational impacts: February’s DOGE layoffs began impacting safety inspections and airport operations
• Urgent plea: Air traffic controllers’ union asked Congress for additional air traffic funding
• Further threats: DOGE attempted even deeper cuts to controller positions despite recent crashes
MAY 2025: Major Airport Disruptions As Deeper Cuts Continue
• More cuts planned: DOT Secretary Duffy announced plans to further reduce Department of Transportation staff by month’s end
• Newark Airport crisis:
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Extensive delays: Newark faced major disruptions due to staffing shortages
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System failure: Controllers lost radar and communication with aircraft under their purview
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Airline warning: United Airlines urged customers to avoid Newark entirely
• Reagan Airport safety incident: At Reagan Airport, multiple airliners aborted landings due to an unmonitored helicopter in the airport’s airspace
• Oversight abandoned: Just today, FAA suspended independent safety review panel, preventing completion of recommendations and the Trump administration abruptly removed the vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board while the trusted independent agency is still involved in investigations into the air safety incidents