President Donald Trump on Thursday placed blame on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation for the fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C., which involved an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk Army helicopter.
Speaking at his first press conference since the accident, Trump claimed that DEI policies, particularly those implemented under the Obama and Biden administrations, had compromised aviation safety. "I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary," Trump said. "Only the highest aptitude. They have to be the highest intellect and psychological aptitude that were allowed to be qualified for air traffic controllers."
The collision, which took place Wednesday evening near Reagan National Airport, resulted in what is likely the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 25 years. American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on a training flight with three soldiers aboard. First responders have recovered 28 bodies, with officials saying there are no expected survivors.
While an official investigation is still underway, Trump was quick to assert that the accident was a result of incompetence within air traffic control. "I can't imagine that people with 20/20 vision can't see what's happening out there," he said. "The American Airlines pilot was doing everything right... and for some reason, you have a helicopter at the same height and going at an angle. It was unbelievably bad."
Trump's remarks extended to a broader critique of the FAA's hiring practices. He alleged that previous administrations had prioritized diversity over qualifications, referencing efforts to include individuals with disabilities in air traffic control roles. "A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white," Trump claimed. "They had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that and to change it immediately."
The comments sparked immediate backlash from Democrats and former officials. Senator Gary Peters criticized Trump's remarks as "irresponsible," telling MSNBC, "Let's get to the facts, and the facts will come out fairly quickly. We've got to let that process play out."
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who served in the Biden administration, also condemned Trump's statements. "As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying," Buttigieg wrote on X. "We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch."
The FAA has not yet responded to Trump's claims, though aviation experts warn against jumping to conclusions before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completes its review. The agency has begun analyzing flight data recorders and is expected to provide preliminary findings in the coming weeks.
Despite the political debate, rescue teams continue their work at the crash site in the Potomac River, where recovery efforts are complicated by freezing temperatures and debris scattered across the water. Investigators are examining whether communication failures, equipment malfunctions, or procedural lapses played a role in the crash.
Trump, who has made dismantling DEI programs a key focus of his administration, has moved swiftly to eliminate related initiatives in federal agencies. His executive orders have already placed DEI personnel on administrative leave and halted funding for related programs across the government.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's sentiments at the press conference, stating, "We will have the best and brightest in every position possible." Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy added, "We will not accept excuses. We will not accept passing the buck."
