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Vice President JD Vance defended President Trump’s remarks that linked diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices to the plane crash on Wednesday night. Speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Vance told Maria Bartiromo that Trump was not assigning blame but raising concerns about the consequences of DEI policies on air traffic control staffing.
Vance asserted that Trump made it clear he was not blaming individuals but highlighting how DEI initiatives contributed to a staffing shortage among air traffic controllers. He called this a scandal but praised Trump for addressing the issue.
When Bartiromo asked if there was evidence that staff involved in the crash were hired under DEI policies, Vance did not provide direct proof but emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. He suggested that staffing shortages could have resulted from DEI-related hiring restrictions, impacting air traffic management efficiency.
He argued that a direct link existed between DEI policies under the previous administration and the lack of sufficient air traffic controllers.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has yet to determine the cause of the collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter, and no official statement has been made regarding fault or contributing factors. Investigators have not publicly indicated that DEI hiring played any role in the incident.
Trump addressed the matter at a press conference on Thursday, stating that it was unclear whether air traffic controllers made any mistakes but pledged to investigate all angles. He criticized previous Democratic administrations for allegedly prioritizing diversity over aviation safety. He suggested that these policies had weakened the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), potentially leading to safety lapses.
Reporters pressed Trump on how he could conclude that DEI had any connection to the crash without evidence. Trump responded by citing common sense, arguing that high-level decision-making in air traffic control required the best personnel.
He described air traffic management as a highly complex operation requiring exceptional skill, particularly in handling numerous planes arriving from multiple directions in a short time frame.
Trump’s remarks drew strong criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who defended the Biden administration’s aviation safety record. Buttigieg dismissed Trump’s claims as “despicable” and accused him of lying instead of leading.
He argued that under Biden, the administration prioritized safety, reduced near-collisions, increased air traffic control staffing, and maintained a record of zero commercial airline crash fatalities. Buttigieg noted that Trump, now in charge of the military and the FAA, had fired or suspended key personnel responsible for ensuring aviation safety and called on him to take concrete action to prevent future incidents.
Trump’s comments followed his recent directive for the FAA to eliminate DEI hiring efforts, part of his broader push to remove such initiatives across federal agencies. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order appointing a new FAA administrator to replace the acting head who resigned after Trump’s return to office.
The new acting FAA administrator, Chris Rocheleau, is a longtime FAA official who will serve until the Senate confirms a permanent replacement.
Vance’s remarks reinforced Trump’s position, insisting that previous policies had resulted in a workforce that was not necessarily the most qualified. He reiterated that this issue was not about attacking individuals but about ensuring the highest level of competence in critical roles.
Vance also argued that the consequences of diversity-driven hiring practices were evident in various sectors and should be reconsidered to prioritize merit and qualifications over demographic considerations.
Despite these assertions, aviation experts and safety officials have cautioned against making premature conclusions about the crash before a thorough investigation is completed. The NTSB and FAA continue to analyze the circumstances, and no official determination has been made about whether staffing issues or hiring practices contributed to the incident.
Some experts argue that Trump’s rhetoric politicizes aviation safety rather than addressing actual risks based on evidence.
The FAA has historically faced staffing shortages due to budget constraints, training delays, and retirements, factors that predate DEI policies. Industry professionals emphasize that ensuring a sufficient number of qualified controllers is a complex issue involving multiple variables, including technological upgrades, recruitment strategies, and funding allocations.
They warn that linking a specific policy to a single incident without data may misrepresent broader challenges within the aviation industry.
Trump’s focus on DEI in federal agencies aligns with his broader policy agenda, which seeks to reverse what he describes as identity-based hiring initiatives. His administration has taken steps to eliminate DEI offices and programs, arguing that they introduce inefficiencies and lower performance standards.
Supporters of these measures claim they will restore meritocracy in hiring, while critics argue they undermine efforts to promote equal opportunity and representation in the workforce.
In the wake of the crash, lawmakers and aviation officials have urged patience while investigations continue. Some have called for a bipartisan approach to addressing air traffic controller shortages, emphasizing the need for solutions based on facts rather than political narratives.
The NTSB has committed to a comprehensive review of all contributing factors, including staffing levels, equipment functionality, and procedural adherence on the night of the incident.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s comments reflects broader political debates about DEI policies and their impact on government agencies.
While some view his stance as a necessary correction to past hiring practices, others argue it distracts from the real challenges facing aviation safety. The coming weeks will likely see continued scrutiny over Trump’s actions regarding the FAA, as well as the investigation into the cause of the crash.
For now, Trump and his allies remain firm in their belief that prioritizing skill and experience over diversity initiatives will lead to better outcomes in aviation and beyond.
Meanwhile, opponents contend that removing DEI policies could have long-term consequences for workforce diversity and inclusion. As the debate unfolds, the aviation industry awaits the NTSB’s final report, which will ultimately determine the factors that contributed to the crash and whether policy changes are necessary.
