January 31st 2025.
The response from the President regarding the mid-air collision above our nation's capital was not only shameful, but also predictable. Pablo, a renowned journalist, expressed his disappointment in Trump's attempt to blame diversity for the tragic event.
On a Wednesday night, a passenger plane and a military helicopter collided, resulting in the loss of all 67 individuals on board. Pablo strongly advised against believing Trump's claims, stating that the President's response was not only shameful, but also predictable.
Even before the dust had settled and the families had a chance to grieve, Trump held a news conference where he, without any evidence, suggested that an increase in diversity at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could be responsible for the accident. When pressed on how he could make such a statement, Trump doubled down and claimed that the FAA hired unqualified individuals.
However, there was no evidence or facts to support Trump's claims. It seemed to be a knee-jerk reaction, using diversity as a scapegoat for the incident. This kind of attack on diversity could potentially harm the public's trust in air traffic control and discourage people from pursuing careers in this field.
The truth is, there has been a shortage of air traffic controllers for years, with approximately 3,000 fewer than needed as of last May. This shortage puts a lot of pressure on the remaining controllers, forcing them to work long and exhausting shifts with little room for error. This issue is not caused by diversity, but rather by working conditions and budget cuts. There have been several near-misses in the past due to this shortage.
If Trump truly cared about aviation safety, he would not be attacking public servants. Instead, he would be addressing the key vacancies in the FAA, the weakening of airline safety regulations for corporate profits, and his refusal to acknowledge the shortage of air traffic controllers.
Just a week before this tragic event, on his second day in office this year, Trump fired the head of the Transportation Security Administration and dismissed the entire Aviation Security Advisory Committee. 67 lives were lost in this accident.
So, how can Trump blame diversity, or as he puts it, the hiring of individuals with dwarfism or epilepsy by the FAA? Diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace are not about checking boxes, but about making better decisions. The FAA is a prime example of why diversity matters.
Several independent studies have shown that diverse teams challenge groupthink and improve problem-solving, which is crucial in high-stakes environments like aviation. When former President Joe Biden implemented stricter diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, the FAA expanded its recruitment efforts and was able to tap into a wider pool of talent. This, in my opinion, would have enhanced crisis management and communication strategies.
During the current administration, the FAA has even met its 2024 hiring goal. This shows that diversity policies do not lower standards, but rather expand the talent pool. There is no conspiracy to take away jobs from white men or for foreigners to dominate the industry, despite what right-wing propaganda may claim. It simply provides equal opportunities for a diverse range of individuals, whether they are air traffic controllers, safety inspectors, or pilots, all of whom must meet extremely high standards.
However, even with these efforts, around 70% of air traffic controllers are white, a significantly higher number than the general population. Trump and his supporters do not target diversity by accident; they do it because it challenges their outdated beliefs on who should hold positions of power.
In my opinion, everything Trump says and does is a deliberate attempt to reinforce and promote America's historical racial hierarchy. The lack of diversity in the FAA is a result of systemic barriers faced by people of color, disabled individuals, women, LGBT+ individuals, and other minorities on a daily basis. Their presence goes against Trump's ideal world.
Therefore, the President's comments on diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only incorrect but also unpatriotic and insulting to the lives lost in this tragedy. Instead of waiting for all the facts, Trump used this accident to push his political agenda. Instead of honoring the victims, he used their deaths for his own gain. And instead of working towards preventing future disasters, he is promoting policies that may make them more likely.
This is not leadership, but rather another distraction from the fact that things only seem to get worse under Donald J. Trump's presidency. The real issue in America is not diversity, equity, and inclusion, but rather DJT.
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