The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union is welcoming the reinstatement of 132 FAA employees who were terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on February 14. A federal judge in Maryland ruled the layoffs unlawful, ordering their return to duty on March 20 with full back pay.

PASS national president David Spero praised the decision, calling it a "win for public safety and a critical workforce dedicated to the FAA’s mission." He condemned the terminations as demoralizing and unjustified, stating, "These excellent civil servants, many of whom are veterans, can now return to duty and collect a well-deserved paycheck."

Affected employees were on probationary status when they were dismissed as part of DOGE's cost-cutting measures. While termination emails cited performance issues, Spero said FAA managers refuted those claims. "We are pleased that these false allegations have been removed, allowing these employees to continue their service without an unsubstantiated blemish on their records," he added.

While the FAA has yet to issue a formal response, sources indicate the agency is preparing for the employees’ return. Legal experts said the ruling could set a precedent for other challenges to DOGE’s federal workforce reductions.

PASS said it remains committed to defending its members and ensuring the integrity of the aviation safety workforce, vowing to push back against unjust terminations that threaten the FAA’s mission.