The truth is finally out, and it’s worse than we thought: The Obama and Biden administrations deliberately undermined air traffic safety in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The latest reports confirm that FAA hiring policies under these Democratic administrations gave priority to individuals with intellectual, psychiatric, and severe physical disabilities for one of the most high-stakes jobs in America—air traffic control.
This isn’t conspiracy or speculation. It’s documented fact, and it’s already led to deadly consequences.
Uh, #FAA can you be more specific? #DEI @PeteButtigieg #InclusionTakenTooFar ? #AirlineSafety #TransportationSafety pic.twitter.com/cOeSu1NOUd
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) January 15, 2024
The Dangerous DEI Experiment in the Skies
A 2013 archived page from the FAA shows that Obama-era policies explicitly emphasized hiring people with disabilities—including severe intellectual and psychiatric conditions—for air traffic control jobs. Instead of prioritizing skill, focus, and high-stakes decision-making, the FAA focused on inclusion quotas over national safety.
In 2019, under Trump, the FAA launched a pilot program aimed at preparing people with disabilities for air traffic roles. While this program may have had good intentions, it continued the precedent set by Obama—one that Biden eagerly expanded once he took office.
By December 2024, under Biden, the FAA was still using non-competitive hiring methods to push DEI candidates into crucial safety positions. The consequences? A severely understaffed and overworked air traffic control system.
According to an FAA admission in early 2024, only 3 out of 313 air traffic control facilities nationwide were fully staffed. To compensate, the FAA deliberately slowed down air traffic to avoid potential disasters—an admission that their hiring practices were directly affecting flight safety.
A Collision That Should Never Have Happened
Fast forward to the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 near Washington, D.C., which left 67 people dead after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter. While we don’t yet know the exact cause, there’s one glaring question that looms large:
Did DEI hiring in air traffic control contribute to the failure to prevent this disaster?
Despite this legitimate concern, the leftist media has already tried to deflect blame—going as far as falsely blaming Trump’s brand-new Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, for a policy he wasn’t even in office to oversee.
Trump’s Response: No More DEI in Air Traffic Control
Unlike the previous administration, Trump has already moved to fix this mess. His administration’s latest fact sheet confirms that he will:
- End Biden’s DEI hiring programs and restore merit-based hiring
- Review the performance of all FAA employees in critical safety positions
- Fire and replace anyone who fails to meet competency standards
For Democrats, DEI might be about checking a diversity box. But for Americans who depend on safe skies, this is a matter of life and death.
The Bottom Line: DEI Kills
The facts are crystal clear. Obama and Biden turned air traffic control into a social experiment, one where identity mattered more than ability. Now, we’re seeing the real-world consequences—and they’re deadly.
Trump is taking action, but how many more innocent lives have to be lost before the left admits that DEI is a disaster?
Current job listing for an air traffic controller on the FAA's website is open to people with disabilities including psychiatric & intellectual delays.
Doesn't it make you feel safe knowing your air traffic controller can have an intellectual disability or have a seizure while… pic.twitter.com/7H8QXQ39WR
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 6, 2024