Trump criticizes DEI hiring policies after Potomac collision
A tragic incident over the Potomac River involving an American Airlines passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter has sparked strong criticism from President Donald Trump against key figures and policies of the Biden administration.
Breitbart reports that President Trump has blamed the Biden administration's diversity-focused hiring practices for compromising federal safety standards after the unfortunate aerial collision, which left 67 people dead.
The accident occurred on Wednesday when American Airlines flight 5342 collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the immediate death of the 64 passengers and three servicemembers on board. The collision has drawn both national concern and political commentary, with investigations currently underway by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Trump Assigns Blame to Pete Buttigieg
Donald Trump was quick to point fingers at Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary, voicing dissatisfaction with his leadership over the Department of Transportation. Trump did not mince words, asserting, “Do you know how badly everything’s run since he’s run the Department of Transportation? He’s a disaster.”
Continuing his criticism, Trump denounced Buttigieg's record, not only as Transportation Secretary but also as a former mayor. The former president's comments come as scrutiny increases over the factors leading to aviation safety lapses.
DEI Policies Under Fire from Trump
Beyond specific criticisms of Buttigieg, Trump also took aim at the Biden administration's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, claiming these policies have undermined the safety of FAA operations. He cited a January 14 article from Fox News that discussed the FAA's concentrated efforts on hiring people with certain disabilities as part of its DEI agenda.
The article noted that the FAA's recruitment strategy emphasized various disabilities, including severe intellectual and psychiatric conditions. Trump's position is that such practices have diverted attention from merit-based evaluations crucial for maintaining high safety standards.
Obama's FAA Standards Criticized and Changed
Trump also addressed standards set during former President Barack Obama’s administration. He claimed that those regulations were "very mediocre at best," expressing his belief that his own administration improved them significantly. He emphasized that during his term, only individuals of the highest intellect and psychological capacity were permitted to become air traffic controllers.
The rollback of these standards under Biden’s presidency prompted Trump’s accusations that the changes have been detrimental to federal safety oversight, asserting that they were made less stringent than ever before.
Executive Action for Merit-Based Approach
In a prompt response while in office, Trump issued an executive action aimed at reversing DEI policies in favor of a primarily merit-based hiring system. His directive was that all DEI-related initiatives should be rescinded to ensure that employment decisions are based on individual capability and competence. The directive tasked Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and acting FAA Commissioner Christopher Rocheleau with implementing the changes.
Investigations Continue into Aerial Tragedy
As the debate over policies ensues, federal authorities are focusing on uncovering the precise causes of the collision. Both the FAA and NTSB have pledged thorough investigations into the matter, aiming to determine the contributing factors to the catastrophe and how similar incidents might be avoided in the future.
The tragedy over the Potomac River highlights concerns over operational safety and the implementation of policy reforms within federal agencies. As both public and political pressures mount, the outcomes of the ongoing investigations are likely to influence future aviation regulatory practices significantly.
