President Trump Issues Executive Order to Cease DEI Hirings in the Aviation Industry

President Donald J Trump as a result of his second day in office has issued an executive order to cease DEI hiring practices of federal employees within the aviation industry. 

Via an executive order titled Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation, President Trump states: "Illegal and discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring, including on the basis of race, sex, disability, or any other criteria other than the safety of airline passengers and overall job excellence, competency, and qualification, harms all Americans, who deserve to fly with confidence. It also penalizes hard-working Americans who want to serve in the FAA but are unable to do so, as they lack a requisite disability or skin color. FAA employees must hold the qualifications and have the ability to perform their jobs to the highest possible standard of excellence.

I hereby order the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator to immediately return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring, as required by law. All so-called DEI initiatives, including all dangerous preferencing policies or practices, shall immediately be rescinded in favor of hiring, promoting, and otherwise treating employees on the basis of individual capability, competence, achievement, and dedication.

The Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator shall review the past performance and performance standards of all individuals in critical safety positions and take all appropriate action to ensure that any individual who fails or has failed to demonstrate requisite capability is replaced by a high-capability individual that will ensure top-notch air safety and efficiency."

Under the executive order launched by President Trump, the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator or acting administrator are required to:

Rescind all DEI initiatives: Any policies or programs promoting diversity hiring or preferences based on identity factors must be immediately dismantled.

Implement merit-based hiring: The agency must ensure hiring, promotions, and employment decisions are based solely on competency, capability, and qualifications.

Review employee performance: A comprehensive review of past performance standards will be conducted, and underperforming employees in critical safety positions will be replaced by individuals who meet high standards of excellence.

The executive order directs the Federal Aviation Administration to submit a progress report within 60 days outlining steps taken to comply with the new presidential directives and to ensure personnel in key safety roles meet the revised competency standards.

President Donald J Trump’s FAA directive aligns with his broader promised commitment to dismantle what he calls “woke policies” across the many federal agencies of the executive branch and return to what he described as “common-sense governance focused on results," reinforced in his inaugural remarks.

Also within the aviation sector President Trump fired TSA Administrator David Pekoske.  Pekoske was originally appointed by Donald Trump during his first term, and was in the middle of what was supposed to be his second five-year term in the job.

PBS reports that Pekoske oversaw the plethora of airport security personnel via the TSA who screen passengers to help keep flights safe. A recent string of stowaways discovered onboard flights and hiding inside wheel wells of planes renewed questions about aviation security and the president felt pressured to take action per PBS reports.

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