January 21, 2025 Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation - Executive Memo
- Fact Seeker
- Mar 2
- 2 min read
Summary of Presidential Order on FAA Hiring Practices
President Donald J. Trump issued an order directing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring initiatives and return to a strictly merit-based system. The order emphasizes the importance of safety and efficiency in FAA hiring practices and criticizes the previous administration's approach.
FAA Oversight and Responsibilities
The FAA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, oversees safety for more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers daily.
The order asserts that FAA employees must meet the highest standards of excellence to ensure air travel safety.
Criticism of Past Hiring Practices
The administration claims that prior to January 20, 2025, the FAA's Diversity and Inclusion website promoted hiring policies that prioritized diversity considerations over job competency.
Asserts that hiring based on race, sex, disability, or other non-merit factors potentially compromised aviation safety.
Suggests these policies discriminated against qualified applicants who did not meet DEI criteria.
Ordered Actions
End of DEI Initiatives: All DEI-related hiring and promotion policies must be immediately rescinded in favor of a merit-based system.
Return to Merit-Based Hiring: FAA employees must be hired and promoted based strictly on capability, competence, achievement, and dedication to public safety.
Review of Safety-Critical Personnel: The Secretary of Transportation and FAA Administrator must evaluate the performance standards of all individuals in critical safety positions.
Replacement of Underperforming Employees: Any individual failing to meet FAA safety and performance standards must be replaced with a more qualified candidate.
The order represents a policy shift toward merit-based employment within the FAA, citing passenger safety and operational efficiency as top priorities.
Writer's Note: Summary made with the use of AI tools for editing and quick processing, facts checked against the order before publishing.
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