Summary
Elon Musk called on retired air traffic controllers to return to work, citing a shortage amid heightened scrutiny of the FAA under Trump’s second term.
With DOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s support, Musk’s DOGE attempts to “upgrade” aviation systems despite recent FAA job cuts.
The AP reports fired employees included radar and navigational aid maintenance personnel, though Duffy insisted no “critical safety personnel” were terminated.
Musk’s appeal comes amid increased public concern over recent aviation incidents, though experts consider the uptick an anomaly.
I’ve worked around some ATC people. They remember what the republicans did. All the new hires get indoctrinated with the sure knowledge that they are considered disposable by republicans and Washington in general. Musk is going to get people killed. We can only hope that that he rushes through the new air force one and it has a titanic sub type of malfunction.
Anecdotally, a significantly large - maybe even 20% - will still get behind anyone with an R after their name. I left the federal civil service after almost five years because I didn’t like the influence of politicians undermining things even then. That included the shutdowns while Obama and Trump admins were in office.
There are union-protected labor workers - even now - still think anyone Republican will protect them, because… “values.” Hell, Utah recently passed legislation making it illegal for any public workers to collectively bargain. How many teachers and firefighters there voted for that possibility in?