DEI Policies May Have Contributed to D.C. Air Incident

Concerns over the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) hiring policies have intensified following the midair collision at Reagan National Airport on January 29.

The crash, involving an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter, resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on board.

In the wake of the tragedy, President Donald Trump addressed the issue in a press conference, criticizing the Obama and Biden administrations for prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies over aviation safety.

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His remarks drew backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who sought to shift attention away from concerns about FAA hiring practices.

Current and former air traffic controllers have come forward, alleging that the FAA’s emphasis on diversity quotas has resulted in the hiring of less-qualified personnel, potentially contributing to the accident.

These diversity-driven hiring initiatives were introduced under the Obama administration, rolled back under Trump, and then reinstated under Biden.

According to whistleblowers, these policies have led to staffing shortages and lowered the agency’s hiring standards, prioritizing demographic representation over technical expertise.

Critics argue that such policies increase risks to public safety by sidelining highly skilled candidates in favor of meeting diversity benchmarks.

Issues with FAA hiring practices date back more than a decade.

In December 2013, thousands of students who had completed the FAA’s Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI)—a program designed to prepare individuals for careers as Air Traffic Control Specialists—were told that their previous test scores on the skills-based AT-SAT exam would no longer count.

Instead, applicants were required to pass a biographical questionnaire before retaking the cognitive portion of the test.

However, only 14% of CTI graduates passed this new questionnaire, despite half of them previously passing the technical skills assessment.

One of the students affected by the changes later sued the FAA for discrimination in a class-action lawsuit, arguing that the agency’s hiring shift was based on racial quotas rather than competency.

Michael Pearson, a former FAA air traffic control specialist with over 26 years of experience, has been involved in lawsuits against the agency over its hiring practices.

Speaking to Just the News, Pearson stated that failures in air traffic control procedures led to the crash.

Pearson explained that a conflict alert appeared on the radar, giving the controller 27 seconds to react.

“When a [conflict alert] goes off, you take immediate action,” Pearson said.

However, he noted that the controller failed to warn the American Airlines jet about the helicopter’s presence and did not issue required safety advisories.

He also criticized the flight path, stating, “The helicopter route was horrible,” and added, “The controller didn’t apply the rules properly.”

While media reports have largely focused on the Army helicopter crew, Pearson argues that air traffic control failures were the primary cause of the disaster.

As investigations continue, concerns remain over whether the FAA will address these systemic hiring issues.

The focus on diversity quotas over technical qualifications has raised alarms about aviation safety, with critics calling for a return to hiring policies based solely on merit.

With lives at stake, the question remains: Will the FAA correct course and refocus on safety, or will these hiring policies continue to put passengers at risk?

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