This past weekend, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the foremost authority in U.S. aviation, found itself in the spotlight once again as the Trump Administration controversially decided to terminate hundreds of FAA employees. This decision follows a devastating midair collision over Washington, D.C., that claimed the lives of 67 people just weeks prior.

The majority of those let go were probationary employees, part of a broader initiative spearheaded by the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative linked to billionaire Elon Musk, aimed at streamlining government operations. Although no air traffic controllers were among those dismissed, these layoffs have raised serious concerns about the FAA’s ability to maintain essential operations, especially in light of ongoing staffing shortages and increasing scrutiny following a series of recent incidents. Just the next day, a Delta Air Lines flight arriving from Minneapolis crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, injuring at least 18 individuals as the plane overturned on the runway.

Aviation safety experts and union leaders are expressing alarm that these layoffs could further strain an already pressured agency tasked with improving its safety record and addressing workforce challenges. The union representing the affected employees described the firings as a “hasty decision” that would “increase the workload and place additional responsibilities on a workforce that is already stretched thin.” They stressed that such actions are particularly concerning given the recent occurrence of three deadly aviation accidents within a month.

In response to the backlash, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took to social media to defend the decision, stating, “The FAA has a substantial workforce of 45,000 employees. Fewer than 400 were let go, all of whom were probationary and had been employed for less than a year. Importantly, no air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel were among those dismissed.”

Let’s take a closer look at the FAA and its responsibilities.

Understanding the FAA and Its Functions

The FAA is the primary federal agency responsible for ensuring aviation safety in the United States. Operating under the U.S. Department of Transportation, the agency regulates civil aviation, oversees air traffic control, manages airport operations, and certifies aircraft.

Established by Congress in response to a tragic incident in 1958, when a military jet collided with a commercial airliner at 21,000 feet over Las Vegas, the FAA has since been dedicated to improving aviation safety.

Beyond its daily operations, the FAA also plays a critical, albeit less recognized, role in national security. It protects U.S. airspace through programs like the National Airspace System Defense Program, which uses radar systems to detect potential missile threats or unauthorized aircraft. The FAA is also responsible for regulating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, within the nation’s airspace. Recently, the agency temporarily banned drone flights in New Jersey following reports of unidentified, brightly colored flying objects.

The FAA’s authority even extends to overseeing rocket launches, including those conducted by Musk’s SpaceX. Last year, the agency proposed civil penalties against SpaceX for alleged violations of licensing requirements, prompting Musk to threaten legal action against the FAA, claiming “regulatory overreach.”

According to a report from the Government Accountability Office released last year, the FAA has been facing workforce shortages and outdated technology for some time. The report indicated that over one-third of the FAA’s systems were deemed “unsustainable” due to obsolescence or a lack of spare parts. It highlighted the agency’s slow progress in modernization and the absence of clear strategies to address critical system issues.

Consequences of Recent Layoffs

Officials from the Department of Transportation have quickly attempted to downplay the significance of the recent layoffs, asserting that they mainly affected probationary employees and did not include air traffic controllers. However, these firings come amid increasing criticism from President Donald Trump and others regarding the FAA’s operational performance.

Union representatives argue that the layoffs disproportionately affected technical staff, particularly those involved in radar maintenance and other crucial infrastructure roles.

David Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, remarked, “This decision did not consider the staffing needs of the FAA, which is already struggling with understaffing. Staffing decisions should align with the agency’s mission-critical requirements. Overlooking this is dangerous for public safety, especially considering three fatal aircraft incidents in the past month.”

The FAA employees terminated over the weekend were part of a larger wave of federal layoffs impacting thousands nationwide, initiated on Thursday with little notice and primarily targeting probationary workers—those with less than one or two years of service, making them easier to terminate. The Trump Administration has mandated that most agencies release nearly all probationary employees who lack civil service protections.

Read More: ‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen’: Trump’s Mass Layoffs Leave Federal Workers Baffled and Angry

One of those affected, Charles Spitzer-Stadtlander, worked for the FAA’s National Defense Program. In a LinkedIn post, he described his responsibilities as “protecting the National Air Space from threats like missiles, hostile drones, and aircraft that might be used as weapons (think 9/11).”

“The FAA NDP is a small but critical element in safeguarding the American public and many border states facing potential threats from adversaries like China and Russia,” he stated.

Musk’s Associates Examining Air Traffic Control System

Secretary Duffy announced plans to overhaul the air traffic control system, with support from a team of engineers from Musk’s SpaceX. This company, whose rocket launches are monitored by the FAA, is currently facing proposed penalties from the agency. On Monday, the engineering team visited the FAA’s command center in Virginia to gain insights into the existing system, understand the preferences of air traffic controllers regarding their tools, and brainstorm ideas for developing a new, enhanced, and safer system. The exact contributions the SpaceX engineers can provide to the FAA remain unclear.

Trump’s Criticism of the FAA

In the wake of the tragic crash near D.C. in late January, President Donald Trump publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with the FAA, blaming the incident on diversity initiatives without providing any supporting evidence.

“We need brilliant people in those positions,” Trump asserted, claiming that the agency lowered its standards under former President Joe Biden, actively recruiting individuals with significant intellectual or psychological challenges as part of diversity efforts. These comments have faced widespread criticism, with opponents arguing that the President fails to recognize the important technical work performed by FAA employees across various divisions, noting that the air traffic controller diversity program he criticized was initiated during his first term.

Trump also faced backlash for disbanding all members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, a group established by Congress after the 1988 PanAm 103 bombing to advise the Department of Homeland Security on aviation safety. While the committee still exists nominally, it currently lacks any members to fulfill its mission of reviewing safety issues and recommending improvements for airport and airline security.