Trump Fires Air Traffic Staff During SpaceX FAA Visit

FAA Employee Terminations Amidst Air Traffic Control Modernization

Reports from CNN indicate that the Trump administration has initiated the dismissal of hundreds of employees within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These individuals are responsible for the upkeep of essential air traffic control infrastructure.

Firings and SpaceX Involvement

The terminations, which commenced late Friday evening, coincide with the selection of Elon Musk’s SpaceX to assist in the development of a modernized air traffic control system.

The exact number of affected workers remains unclear. However, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union confirms that those impacted were probationary employees – new hires undergoing an evaluation period.

Details of the Dismissals

According to David Spero, president of the PASS union, the employees received notification of their dismissal via email late Friday night.

These individuals were involved in the maintenance of FAA radar, landing systems, and navigational aids, as reported by an air traffic controller to the Associated Press, speaking under the condition of anonymity.

Range of Affected Positions

Galen Munroe, deputy director of public affairs at the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), informed TechCrunch that the dismissed personnel included aircraft certification specialists, aviation technical system specialists, engineers and architects, and members of flight procedures teams, among others.

Spero emphasized that the employees were terminated “without cause nor based on performance or conduct.” Notably, the dismissal notices originated not from official government email addresses, but from a Microsoft email address associated with “an ‘exec order.’”

Congressional Concerns and System Modernization

For several years, Congress has urged the FAA to address a recurring pattern of near misses and to modernize its critical systems. Experts suggest the agency has been slow to respond to identified issues.

NATCA Response

Nick Daniels, president of NATCA, released a statement saying: “We will analyze the effect of these terminations on aviation safety, and the national airspace system. It’s a sad day for those who chose to serve in aviation safety and public service, only to have their careers cut short.”

Recent Incidents and Musk's Involvement

This news follows a fatal midair collision in January at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., where a single controller was managing both helicopter and commercial airline traffic. Several other aviation incidents have occurred in recent months.

Shortly after the Washington, D.C., crash, Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump had granted his DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) team authorization to “make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system.”

Future Upgrades

Neither Musk nor Trump has yet detailed the specifics of these proposed safety enhancements.

SpaceX Site Visit

A team from Musk’s SpaceX is scheduled to visit the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia on Monday. The purpose of this visit is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current system, identify areas for improvement from the perspective of air traffic controllers, and conceptualize a new, more modern, and safer system, as stated by Sean Duffy, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, in a post on X.

This article has been updated to incorporate information and a statement from NATCA.