- Hundreds of FAA probation employees were dismissed on weekends, said their union.
- The layoffs, which include air traffic controllers, come while the agency faces staff shortages.
- The FAA is the last government agency to be affected by Trump’s objectives to reduce federal spending.
Hundreds of PROBUSION employees of the Federal Aviation Association – including air traffic controllers – were dismissed, according to their union, just a few weeks after a Washington accident, DC in Washington, DC.
The layoffs were carried out “without reason” and were not based on “the performance or driving of employees”, said professional air security specialists in a statement on February 15.
Some employees received a dismissal email on Friday, and the union said it is possible that others have received dismissal emails this weekend or could be “literally prohibited from entering the buildings of the Faa “on their return to work Tuesday.
The union said that the emails were sent from a Microsoft “Exec Order” email address, not an .GOV address.
The White House, FAA and professional air security specialists did not respond to requests for comments on Monday.
The White House decision to reduce FAA workforce comes after a military helicopter collided with a passenger passenger passenger plane outside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport In January, killing 67 people. The tragedy highlighted the personnel challenges within the FAA and the potential security gaps in the federal aviation policy.
After the accident, Trump promised to make “rapid” improvements to American plane trips, While blaming the crash on the diversity, equity and efforts of inclusion of the FAA. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said on February 16 that “President Trump ordered a new world -class air traffic control system that will want the world”.
The leaders of the aviation industry have warned that the long-standing subtract in the FAA could bring the future operations of risky airlines.
“This draconian action will increase the workload and place new responsibilities on a workforce that is already extended,” said David Spero, national president of professional security specialists, in the February 15 press release.
The National Air Traffic Cuellers Association also told Business Insider that it “analyzes the effect of federal dismissals of employee on air security”.
The FAA workforce includes thousands of government employees at all levels of aviation, including systems specialists, safety inspectors, mechanics, air traffic control and staff administrative. Probation employees, who, according to the union, have been the most affected by layoffs, are generally new hires.
The FAA is one of the many government agencies to face endowment cuts from the Elon and Elon Musk government department.
Thousands of employees of the Agency for International Development, the Personnel Management Office, the Forest Service, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and more have received similar dismissal notices in recent weeks while the Administration promises to reduce federal spending.
Are you a FAA employee or a affected federal worker? If so, contact this journalist on a non -work device to allisonkelly@businessinsider.com or on the secure messaging application signal in Alliekelly.10
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