President Donald Trump last week ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to unwind its diversity, equity and inclusion-based hiring practices, claiming the agency illegally favored minorities, women, people with disabilities and members of other marginalized groups in its hiring under the Biden administration.
"I hereby order the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator to immediately return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring, as required by law," the order said. "All so-called DEI initiatives, including all dangerous preferencing policies or practices, shall immediately be rescinded in favor of hiring, promoting, and otherwise treating employees on the basis of individual capability, competence, achievement, and dedication."
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The FAA directed questions about how the order would affect its hiring practices to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how the changes are being implemented.
"The Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator shall review the past performance and performance standards of all individuals in critical safety positions and take all appropriate action to ensure that any individual who fails or has failed to demonstrate requisite capability is replaced by a high-capability individual that will ensure top-notch air safety and efficiency," the order said but did not outline specific changes that were being made.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at [email protected].