FACT CHECK: Did Trump Fire 3,000 Air Traffic Controllers Ahead Of Fatal Washington, DC Collision?

A viral post shared on X claims President Donald Trump fired multiple federal employees, including 3,000 air traffic controllers, ahead of a recent fatal crash between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial flight.

Trump fired 400 FAA senior officials, the TSA head, and 3,000 air traffic controllers just 8 days ago. Policy choices have consequences.

Today, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a Blackhawk over the Potomac, killing 65 Americans.

This is the Trump #PlaneCrash #AA5342 pic.twitter.com/0LMCg3jeQD

— The News Deak (@TheNewsDeskLive) January 30, 2025

Verdict: False

A White House spokesperson denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

More than 40 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River following a fatal collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight, according to The Associated Press. The flight, which was traveling from Wichita, Kansas, was preparing to land when the fatal collision occurred, the outlet reported.

The X post, which has amassed three million views as of writing, claims Trump fired multiple federal employees, including 3,000 air traffic controllers, ahead of a recent fatal crash between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial flight.

“Trump fired 400 FAA senior officials, the TSA head, and 3,000 air traffic controllers just 8 days ago. Policy choices have consequences,” the post reads in part. The post includes a screenshot of a fact sheet published on the White House’s website about ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The claim is false. While the fact sheet does reiterate Trump’s plans to end DEI hiring practices in the FAA, it does not repeat the claim about multiple federal employees, including 400 FAA senior officials purportedly being fired ahead of the fatal crash.

Likewise, neither the FAA nor the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) appear to have publicly commented on the claim. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has not referenced the claim, either. In addition, Trump has not mentioned the claim on his personal or government X accounts, his TRUTH Social account, or his verified social media accounts.

Check Your Fact also did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Jan. 30, Lead Stories debunked the claim. (RELATED: Facebook Video Does Not Show Authentic Air Force One Flyby)

Furthermore, a White House spokesperson denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“We have not fired any air traffic controllers,” the spokesperson said.

Check Your Fact has also contacted the FAA, TSA, and NATCA for comment.