A Southwest aircraft taxis in Austin [Credit: Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
President Donald Trump has ordered the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to immediately halt all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives less than two days into his new administration.
The order mandates a return to "non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring," with Trump claiming DEI efforts "harm all Americans" and alleging the previous administration pursued problematic hiring practices.
Beyond the FAA, Trump also directed all federal employees in DEI-related roles to be placed on paid leave, with the administration exploring options for potential layoffs.
President Donald Trump is doubling down on purging diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within the U.S. government. Less than two days after his inauguration, his administration is taking aim at the FAA.
On Tuesday, Trump issued an order requiring the FAA to immediately halt all DEI initiatives.
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Ryan is Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group, overseeing a portfolio that includes FLYING, AirlineGeeks, AVweb, Plane + Pilot, KITPLANES, and AircraftForSale.com. He founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has more than a decade of experience across aviation media, airport operations, airline workforce planning, and Part 135 regulatory compliance. His experience ranges from time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing aviation industry executives. Ryan holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and is an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
