USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy Says 'Less Than 400' Were Laid Off At FAA Despite Rising Air Accidents

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Monday that less than 400 employees were let go at the Federal Aviation Administration over the weekend.

What Happened: Duffy said that the FAA has about 45,000 employees and the new government has let go “less than 400” who were probationary. Those laid off were at the agency for less than a year and did not include air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel, he said.

Duffy was responding to his predecessor Pete Buttigieg who questioned the reasons behind firing FAA personnel. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union on Saturday said in a statement that “several hundred employees” were impacted by layoffs at FAA. The layoffs, the union said, were without cause and were not based on performance or conduct.

“This decision did not consider the staffing needs of the FAA, which is already challenged by understaffing. Staffing decisions should be based on an individual agency's mission-critical needs. To do otherwise is dangerous when it comes to public safety. And it is especially unconscionable in the aftermath of three deadly aircraft accidents in the past month,” the union said.

Duffy, however, alleged that Buttigieg, during his term, failed to address air traffic controller shortage and upgrade the “outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system.” Duffy also alleged that over 90% of the FAA’s workforce worked from home under his predecessor’s leadership.

Duffy’s statement comes on the heels of rising plane accidents and events. As recently as Monday, a Delta Air Lines regional jet, run by its Endeavor Air arm, overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, injuring several.

It is unclear what job titles were impacted by the layoff. Benzinga has reached out to the Department of Transportation, the FAA, and the union for comments. This story will be updated as and when they respond.

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