WASHINGTON — The administration of President Donald Trump has clarified that no personnel in crucial safety roles at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been let go during the current reductions of the federal workforce. However, according to the union and former employees, some FAA positions that have been eliminated were directly involved in supporting inspectors and operations that ensure safety at airports.
Approximately 400 FAA workers began receiving termination notices last Friday. While the complete list of affected individuals has not yet been disclosed, a union representing about 130 of those employees reported that the laid-off staff included aviation safety assistants, maintenance mechanics, and nautical information specialists.
These positions play integral roles in assisting aircraft safety inspectors, managing repairs for air traffic control facilities, and updating the digital maps that pilots rely on while flying—particularly in reference to any alterations directed by the FAA following a recent tragic midair incident.
FAA Administrator Sean Duffy stated over the weekend that air traffic controllers and those in critical safety roles were not among those terminated.
“We have safeguarded roles that are essential to safety,” said Halee Dobbins, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, on Wednesday. “The staff reductions involved employees who were on probation, meaning they had been with the FAA for less than two years and made up less than one percent of the agency’s total workforce of over 45,000.”
A former FAA certified technician, Philip Mann, noted that whether a position is categorized as “critical to safety” can hinge on whether the individual has the authority to conduct certified inspections of the equipment involved.
While those who were laid off did not perform inspections, they were vital in supporting such activities. Mann stated, “It’s a stretch, but that’s often how the definition is drawn—if you can certify equipment, you have a safety-critical role. If you don’t, then you don’t.”
Mann expressed concerns that the layoffs would have lasting safety ramifications, highlighting that certain essential tasks would be left unaddressed due to the reduced workforce.
The reduction of personnel occurs at a time when public confidence in air travel has dipped, especially following a recent collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. A recent poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated that only 64% of U.S. adults regard air travel as “very safe” or “somewhat safe,” down from 71% the previous year, with those feeling that air travel is “very” or “somewhat unsafe” increasing from 12% in 2024 to almost 20% now.
Among those affected by the layoffs were maintenance mechanics at 18 air traffic control facilities. These individuals typically address electronic issues and perform other repairs to maintain operational integrity at these sites, according to David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Specialists Association.
The absence of maintenance personnel could lead to challenges in maintaining critical infrastructure such as radar systems, compelling certified technicians to take on additional responsibilities.
