Trump blamed recent Democratic administrations and DEI, ordering top transit and aviation officials to review hiring decisions made during Biden's years.

President Donald Trump blasted the Federal Aviation Administration's DEI standards at a press conference addressing Wednesday night's deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

Mike Whitaker, unanimously confirmed as the FAA administrator in October 2023, stepped down early from his five-year term on Jan. 20 when Trump took office and for 10 days the FAA declined to say who was running the agency on an acting basis. Trump has not yet named a permanent candidate to replace Whitaker.

Facing his first crisis just two days into the job, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy touted reforms sought by the president, who has lambasted DEI policies.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Trump’s remarks about diversity programs, saying “only the best brightest” should hold federal aviation jobs. “We will not accept excuses,” Duffy said. “We will not accept passing the buck.

It appears that the first major air disaster in the U.S. since 2009 has occurred while the Federal Aviation Administration does not have a permanent leader.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had been sworn in just hours before the deadly midair collision of a plane and helicopter near Washington, D.C.

The FAA, under the first Trump administration, also tried to increase the hiring of people with targeted disabilities.

Authorities believe there were no survivors after an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday.

President Trump has assured the highest aviation safety standards after a plane crash in Washington DC that killed 67 people. He blamed diversity effo

As the nation begins to grapple with and mourn what reportedly are more than 60 deaths from a late Wednesday night mid-air collision over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, some are also grappling with the response from President Donald Trump.