Fact Check: Did Donald Trump fire 3,000 air traffic controllers before DC plane crash?
WASHINGTON, DC: Following the tragic DC airplane clash, which led to the death of 64 people on board and three soldiers in the helicopter, President Donald Trump blamed Democrats and diversity initiatives in the federal government for the midair collision, according to CNN.
Recently a rumor made its way online claiming that President Trump fired 3,000 air traffic controllers shortly after taking office for his second term. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Donald Trump fired 3,000 air traffic controllers following DC plane crash
An X (formerly Twitter) account @TheNewsDeskLive claimed that the president fired 3,000 air traffic controllers days before the horrific DC plane crash. The post has so far received more the three million views and 27,000 likes.
Trump fired 400 FAA senior officials, the TSA head, and 3,000 air traffic controllers just 8 days ago. Policy choices have consequences.
— The News Deak (@TheNewsDeskLive) January 30, 2025
Today, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a Blackhawk over the Potomac, killing 65 Americans.
This is the Trump #PlaneCrash #AA5342 pic.twitter.com/0LMCg3jeQD
The post read, "Trump fired 400 FAA senior officials, the TSA head, and 3,000 air traffic controllers just 8 days ago. Policy choices have consequences. Today, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a Blackhawk over the Potomac, killing 65 Americans. This is the Trump #PlaneCrash #AA5342."
The post also had a picture that read, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J Trump ends DEI madness and restores excellence and safety within the Federal Aviation Administration."
False: There is no evidence to back the claim
The claims made in the online rumor are false as there is no evidence to prove that Donald Trump specifically approved the firing of 3,000 air traffic controllers, according to Snopes.
However, President Trump did sign a memorandum on January 22 to end a Biden administration Federal Aviation Administration hiring policy which he claimed "prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over safety and efficiency".
Moreover, he also ordered the FAA administrator to review the performance of FAA employees in "critical safety positions", per the outlet.
Trump signed the federal hiring freeze Trump on January 20 which applies to all executive departments and agencies, except military personnel of the armed forces or to positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety, according to Snopes.
Donald Trump blames Obama and Biden for lowering air safety standards
President Trump blamed Barack Obama and Joe Biden-supported diversity hires for lowering the air safety standards during his press briefing on Thursday, January 30.
Trump said, "I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first. They actually came out with a directive: 'too white' and we want the people that are competent."
Moreover, Trump added that he was appointing Chris Rocheleau as the acting Federal Aviation Administration administrator.
During the briefing, Trump also suggested that people with dwarfism shouldn't be air traffic controllers. He said air traffic controllers needed to be brilliant to ensure safety.
He said, "They have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses. They can't have regular people doing their job. They won't be able to do it."
"The FAA website states they include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism ... all qualify for the position of a controller of airplanes pouring into our country, pouring into a little spot on the map ... a little runway," Trump added.
