The mass layoffs at the U.S. government have reached the FAA, with hundreds of probationary agency workers receiving emails beginning Friday evening that notified them of their termination. This included members of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). 

“We are troubled and disappointed by the administration’s decision to fire FAA probationary employees PASS represents without cause nor based on performance or conduct,” said PASS national president David Spero in a statement released over the weekend. “Several hundred employees have been impacted with messages being sent from an ‘exec order’ Microsoft email address, not an official .gov email address. Messages began arriving after 7 p.m. ET on February 14 and continued late into the night.”

PASS, which represents workers who inspect and maintain the nation’s air traffic control systems, believes that up to 300 members may be affected. Anecdotally, this includes a range of positions that include maintenance mechanics, aeronautical information specialists, environmental protection specialists, aviation safety assistants, and management and program assistants (administration personnel).

NATCA president Nick Daniels reported that numerous NATCA Region X employees were affected. Region X members are not controllers; however, they are involved in an array of tasks at the agency, including key safety-related roles such as aircraft certification specialists, airport division employees, automation support specialists, and aviation technical system specialists, among others. 

“We will analyze the effects of these terminations on aviation safety and the National Airspace System,” Daniels said. “It’s a sad day for those who chose to serve in aviation safety and public service only to have their career cut short.”

Details of exactly how many workers were terminated—and where—were still uncertain as of Monday morning, a situation described as seemingly “sheer chaos.” The government definition of probationary includes both a recent hire or a long-serving employee who was moved or promoted into a new position. However, PASS said it was advised by counsel that only new positions are affected.

While not providing specifics, a U.S. Department of Transportation spokesperson on Monday afternoon told AIN when asked about the layoffs: "The FAA continues to hire and onboard air traffic controllers and safety professionals, including mechanics and others who support them. The agency has retained employees who perform safety-critical functions."

The White House has already moved to eliminate all functions related to diversity, inclusion, and equity activities, imposed a hiring freeze, and offered buyout packages. However, the American Association of Airport Executives noted that it was informed that air traffic controllers and other safety-critical positions at the FAA were exempt from the latter two actions, along with Customs and Border Protection personnel.

With the latest reports of employee terminations, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington), the ranking member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released a statement: “Despite promising to spare aviation safety positions from their government-wide purge of public servants, the Trump administration has now fired hundreds of safety-critical workers that the aviation system depends upon to function. Conducting this reckless purge in the wake of the tragic crash at DCA and in the middle of a busy holiday weekend is a terrible idea that puts the traveling public at risk. It must be reversed immediately.”

On the Senate side, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), the ranking Democrat on the Commerce Committee, reacted: “Now is not the time to fire technicians who fix and operate more than 74,000 safety-critical pieces of equipment like radars, navigational aids, and communications technology. The FAA is already short 800 technicians and these firings inject unnecessary risk into the airspace—in the aftermath of four deadly crashes in the last month. The FAA’s safety workforce needs to be a priority for this Administration.”

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include a response from the U.S. Department of Transportation.