Did DEI Hiring Policies Contribute to the Reagan Airport Midair Collision?

How Decade-Long Diversity Initiatives May Have Undermined Air Traffic Safety

The tragic midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) has reignited concerns about the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) hiring practices, particularly the policies implemented under the Obama and Biden administrations. With air travel more congested than ever, the importance of competence and experience in air traffic control cannot be overstated. Yet, for over a decade, the FAA has prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring initiatives over proven qualifications—raising critical questions about whether these policies have made flying less safe.

The FAA’s Controversial DEI Hiring Changes

In 2014, the Obama administration overhauled the FAA’s air traffic controller hiring process. Previously, priority was given to graduates of the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), a program designed to train the next generation of air traffic controllers with rigorous coursework and simulator-based instruction. AT-CTI graduates, many of whom had degrees in aviation or air traffic management, were required to pass the FAA’s Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT) exam, a validated aptitude test that ensured only the most capable individuals advanced.

However, under new FAA diversity initiatives, the AT-CTI pipeline was scrapped in favor of a biographical questionnaire (BQ). This BQ replaced aptitude-based assessments with vague, subjective criteria, such as an applicant’s life experiences and “cultural background.” As a result, thousands of highly qualified AT-CTI graduates were discarded, while new applicants with little to no aviation background were prioritized to increase racial and gender diversity.

The effects of these changes were immediate:

• Nearly 1,000 AT-CTI graduates were turned away, despite having already completed FAA-approved training.

• Applicants who failed the AT-SAT test were given a second chance, while AT-CTI graduates were locked out.

• Lawsuits were filed, alleging the FAA’s hiring policies discriminated against qualified candidates in favor of DEI-driven quotas.

Despite these concerns, the Biden administration doubled down on these policies, embedding DEI hiring across federal agencies, including the FAA. These decisions have led to staffing shortages and concerns over competency, particularly in high-pressure environments such as Washington, D.C.'s congested airspace.

The Reagan National ATC Staffing Crisis

The air traffic control (ATC) tower at Reagan National Airport (DCA) was severely understaffed at the time of the collision. Reports indicate the control tower needed at least 30 air traffic controllers to safely manage air traffic but had only 19 on staff.

This shortage, coupled with the complexity of managing both commercial and military aircraft in a busy flight corridor, raises serious concerns about whether the FAA’s hiring policies have led to a decline in air traffic control performance.

• Understaffing creates fatigue and overwork, increasing the likelihood of errors.

• Less experienced controllers may struggle with high-stress situations, especially in complex airspaces like Washington, D.C.

• The FAA’s failure to fill critical positions with the most qualified personnel is now a glaring issue in light of this disaster.

The investigation into the midair collision will determine whether controller error or staffing shortages played a role, but the numbers alone paint a troubling picture.

President Trump’s Plan to Restore Merit-Based Hiring

With Donald Trump back in the White House, one of his first executive actions was to terminate all DEI programs in the federal government, including within the FAA. On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an order requiring all federal agencies to dismantle DEI offices and programs within 60 days. This move also included:

• Placing DEI-focused employees on paid leave while agencies restructured hiring practices.

• Eliminating DEI-based hiring mandates, restoring a focus on merit and qualifications.

• Ordering a full audit of FAA hiring practices, particularly in air traffic control recruitment and training.

Trump’s actions aim to reverse a decade of politicized hiring and ensure that critical positions—like air traffic controllers—are filled based on skill, experience, and proven ability rather than social justice-driven policies.

The Cost of DEI in Aviation: A Warning Sign?

The midair collision outside Reagan National Airport may be the first major aviation disaster linked to the FAA’s DEI-driven hiring practices, but it should be the last. While diversity is not inherently a problem, lowering standards for life-or-death professions like air traffic control is unacceptable.

As the investigation unfolds, one question must be asked: Would this tragedy have been avoided if the FAA had prioritized competence over quotas?