The Trump administration has laid off about 400 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees starting February 14, 2025, as part of sweeping cuts to the federal workforce led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), raising aviation safety concerns.
Among those laid off were 26 aviation safety assistants, each of whom normally supports 10 inspectors, as well as maintenance mechanics at 18 air traffic control facilities.
Union representatives warned that the cuts would increase the workload on remaining staff, which could affect radar maintenance, in-flight navigation updates and safety checks.
Source: AP