No evidence has emerged that rules seeking to diversify the FAA played any role in the collision Wednesday between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people. Trump is using this week's disaster as another opportunity to push back against diversity programs, after signing executive orders that banned such initiatives across the federal government.
That included one specifically for the secretary of transportation and the federal aviation administrator. The FAA's own data shows people with such disabilities make up only a tiny fraction of air traffic controllers.
And there is no indication that investigators into the crash are focused on diversity hiring or staffers with disabilities. Families are grieving the loss of loved ones. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat who lost both legs while flying Black Hawk helicopters in the Iraq War, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
Democratic Sen. Groups representing disabled workers issued a joint statement saying they were dismayed by the scapegoating, noting that anyone hired under the FAA's diversity initiative had to meet its stringent qualifications.
Homendy told a Senate panel in that a surge in close calls between planes at U. Disabilities identified for special emphasis in hiring included conditions such as paralysis, epilepsy or missing extremities. A announcement detailed a program to enroll up to 20 people with targeted disabilities in up to a year of training at air traffic control centers, with the potential to be appointed to a temporary position at the FAA's academy.
