Elon Musk’s Efficiency Drive Leads to Mass FAA Layoffs
Hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees have been fired as part of a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), according to the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union. The move comes just weeks after a fatal mid-air plane collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.
The affected employees, primarily probationary workers with less than a year of service, were notified of their termination via email late Friday. PASS President Alex Spero condemned the decision, calling it “shameful” and warning that it would exacerbate existing understaffing issues. “This will increase the workload and place new responsibilities on a workforce that is already stretched thin,” Spero said in a statement.
The layoffs reportedly target a wide range of roles, including systems specialists, safety inspectors, maintenance mechanics, and administrative staff. Spero criticized the timing of the cuts, noting they come in the wake of three deadly aviation accidents in the past month. “This decision is unconscionable,” he said.
Jason King, one of the laid-off employees, expressed concerns about the impact on aviation safety. Speaking to WUSA9, a CBS affiliate, King said, “Firing people directly involved with air safety is concerning for public safety in our national airspace.” He added that the cuts “threaten public trust and increase the likelihood of future accidents.” King, whose role at the FAA involved addressing safety concerns, emphasized that “aviation safety should never be treated as a budget item that can just be completely cut.”
The FAA and the Department of Transportation have not yet commented on the layoffs. However, the move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reduce the federal workforce. Earlier this year, President Trump ordered government agencies to terminate probationary employees, a directive that could affect hundreds of thousands of workers across various departments.
The layoffs coincide with a planned visit by a SpaceX team to the FAA on Monday to propose improvements to the U.S. air traffic control system. This follows the January plane collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where staffing levels in air traffic control were reportedly below normal at the time of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has yet to determine the cause of the accident.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said the SpaceX team’s visit would provide a “first-hand look at the current system” and help develop a “world-class air traffic control system that will be the envy of the world.” Duffy also plans to visit the FAA Academy later this week to assess training programs and ensure that “only the very best guide our aircraft.”
The layoffs have sparked broader concerns about the administration’s approach to federal agencies. In addition to the FAA cuts, half of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “disease detectives” were reportedly terminated. These officers, part of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, play a critical role in responding to disease outbreaks.
President Trump has also sought to remove the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent ethics agency that protects federal whistleblowers. Hampton Dellinger, the agency’s former head, has sued the administration after being fired last month. The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court, marking the first legal challenge to Trump’s executive actions on federal workforce reductions.
The FAA layoffs have drawn sharp criticism from aviation experts and union leaders, who warn that the cuts could compromise safety and increase risks in an already strained system.