US Pres. Orders Review Of FAA's Hirings, Safety Protocols

1/30/2025 7:05:37 PM

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (KUNA) - One day after the deadly air collision in Washington D.C, US President Donald trump ordered Thursday a thorough review of the US federal Aviation Administration hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols in the past four years.
"Consistent with the Presidential Memorandum of January 21, 2025 (Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation), I am further ordering the Secretary of transportation (Secretary) and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (Administrator) to review all hiring decisions and changes to safety protocols made during the prior 4 years," US President said in a Presidential Memorandum to the Secretary of Transportation.
"And to take such corrective action as necessary to achieve uncompromised aviation safety, including the replacement of any individuals who do not meet qualification standards."
The US leader stressed that this review shall include a systematic assessment of any deterioration in hiring standards and aviation safety standards and protocols during the Biden Administration.
The Presidential Memorandum stipulated that the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator shall take all actions necessary to reverse concerning safety and personnel trends during the prior four years, instill an unwavering commitment to aviation safety, and ensure that all Americans fly with peace of mind.
President Trump blamed the two former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for yesterday's tragedy.
"This shocking event follows problematic and likely illegal decisions during the Obama and Biden Administrations that minimized merit and competence in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)," he said.
"The Obama Administration implemented a biographical questionnaire at the FAA to shift the hiring focus away from objective aptitude. During my first term, my Administration raised standards to achieve the highest standards of safety and excellence. But the Biden Administration egregiously rejected merit-based hiring, requiring all executive departments and agencies to implement dangerous "diversity equity and inclusion" tactics, and specifically recruiting individuals with "severe intellectual" disabilities in the FAA."
He pointed out that on his second day in office, he ordered an immediate return to merit-based recruitment, hiring, and promotion, elevating safety and ability as the paramount standard.
"Yesterday's devastating accident tragically underscores the need to elevate safety and competence as the priority of the FAA," he concluded.
On Wednesday, a commercial plane and a military helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., leaving all on board dead. (end)
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