The White House says the FAA ‘betrayed its mission’ during the previous administration.
A Southwest aircraft taxis in Austin (Photo: Shutterstock | Ceri Breeze)
President Donald Trump is doubling down on purging diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the U.S. government. Less than two days after his inauguration, his administration is taking aim at the Federal Aviation Administration.
On Tuesday, Trump issued an order requiring the FAA to immediately halt all DEI initiatives. “I hereby order the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator to immediately return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring, as required by law,” the order said.
The order adds that these initiatives “harm all Americans.” Trump blamed the Biden administration for increasing DEI hiring practices.
“For example, prior to my Inauguration, the FAA Diversity and Inclusion website revealed that the prior administration sought to specifically recruit and hire individuals with serious infirmities that could impact the execution of their essential life-saving duties,” the order continued.
By prioritizing DEI efforts, Trump said, the FAA “betrayed its mission.”
Last week, executives at Delta said the airline would remain “steadfast” in its DEI initiatives. This comes as other aerospace companies, including Boeing, dissolve these policies altogether.
According to NBC News, Trump also ordered all federal employees in DEI-related roles to go on leave starting Wednesday evening. While their time off will be paid, the administration may be looking at options for layoffs.
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