An official for the Office for Personnel Management, the U. The crash Wednesday that killed all 67 people on board an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter has renewed focus on the real-world implications of President Donald Trump 's push to slash the federal bureaucracy. There's no evidence that the White House effort to downsize government played any role in the collision, with shortages of air traffic controllers long predating Trump taking office.
On Thursday, as the investigation into the crash was well underway, FAA employees were among the federal workers who received an email telling them to quit and find more useful work. An official with OPM, which made the resignation offers, said air traffic controllers are exempt from a hiring freeze that Trump announced on taking office on Jan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal government operations. It was unclear if the controllers themselves have been notified by OPM whether they are exempt.
After the initial offer went out, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association recommended in an email to its union members not to submit a request for the resignation until more information was available. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the union email. NATCA President Nick Daniels said officials had not explained to the union the details of how its employees would be affected by the retirement program.
Though the new administration insists its cost-cutting will exempt public safety workers and keep citizens safe, its rhetoric and approach have been more sweeping than surgical. Trump and his supporters have made personal loyalty to the president a top priority in hiring new workers or keeping existing ones.
During the campaign, Musk demanded the resignation of FAA administrator Michael Whitaker, who clashed with Musk over regulating SpaceX and stepped down the day before Trump took office.
