Vice President JD Vance didn’t hold back in defending President Donald Trump’s blistering critique of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring mandates at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). And after a deadly midair collision that killed 67 people, the issue isn’t just about politics—it’s about American lives.
During an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Vance connected FAA’s race-based hiring practices to dangerously low staffing levels among air traffic controllers.
“The president made it very clear that he wasn’t blaming anybody, but he was being very explicit about the fact that DEI policies have led our air traffic controllers to be short-staffed; that is a scandal.”
How DEI Mandates Took Over the FAA
The fatal crash occurred at Ronald Reagan Airport, where a single air traffic controller was handling both commercial and military aircraft. That’s right—one person, multiple aircraft, total chaos.
Trump didn’t mince words about who’s responsible.
He pointed to Obama-era and Biden-era FAA hiring mandates that prioritized race-based quotas over skill and experience.
“A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white,” Trump explained.
Instead of selecting the best and brightest, the Obama administration revamped the hiring process, replacing a skills-based exam with a biographical questionnaire to push for “equity” in hiring.
DEI Over Safety? Trump Says Enough!
Trump made it clear: when it comes to air traffic control, we need competence, not quotas.
“We have to have our smartest people. It doesn’t matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are … They have to be talented, naturally talented. Geniuses. Can’t have regular people doing this job.”
Vance agreed, saying FAA hiring practices are turning away qualified candidates in favor of meeting diversity targets, which puts American lives at risk.
Biden Cover-Up? FAA Lawsuit Exposes All
This scandal isn’t new. In 2019, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of 2,500 aspiring air traffic controllers and 900 claimants who were denied jobs due to Obama’s DEI policies.
Biden didn’t just ignore the problem—he tried to cover it up.
Will Trachman, the lead attorney on the case, exposed Biden’s efforts to hide 14,000 documents proving the FAA’s wrongdoing.
“The Biden administration refused to recognize the error of the FAA’s ways and so they dug in and, in fact, tried to go bigger on diversity measures.”
Now, 67 people are dead. Because “diversity” mattered more than safety.
DEI Kills—It’s Time Trump Killed It
Trump and Vance aren’t backing down. DEI has no place in air traffic control, the military, or any job where American lives are at stake.
Biden put ideology over safety—and now, innocent Americans are dead.
It’s time to clean house. Trump will restore competence, end race-based hiring, and make American skies safe again.