Washington DC plane crash: Donald Trump scrapped key aviation safety panel just days before mid-air collision

As Washington reels in the wake of the deadly midair collission between a commercial jet and a military helicopter. The crash, which occurred on January 30 near Ronald Reagan National Airport, has brought the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into the spotlight.
Just days before this tragedy, Trump issued a sweeping directive to the FAA and other federal agencies, mandating the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Trump argued that such initiatives compromised safety by focusing on non-merit-based hiring practices, which he claimed had resulted in the hiring of unqualified individuals, potentially putting the lives of airline passengers at risk.
The Potomac crash involved a regional jet and a military helicopter, with over 60 people feared dead, including passengers and crew. It highlighted the critical role of the FAA, which oversees air traffic for tens of thousands of flights daily.

The crash took place in one of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspaces in the world, not far from the White House.
While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, the tragedy has intensified the debate surrounding the FAA’s approach to safety and personnel.
Trump’s memo specifically targeted DEI roles within the FAA and other federal agencies, arguing that such positions had undermined the agency’s ability to maintain high safety standards. The memo insisted that all hiring and promotion should be based on competence and performance, rather than race, gender, or disability status.
As part of the administration’s broader policy shift, federal agencies were instructed to end any DEI-related hiring preferences and ensure that employees in critical safety positions meet the highest standards of capability and experience.
While the White House had already outlined these changes, the Potomac River crash has further raised concerns about the potential impact of the president’s directive on aviation safety. The FAA, responsible for overseeing thousands of daily flights, will now be under increased scrutiny as it faces the dual challenges of investigating the crash and implementing the president’s new hiring policies.
Trump’s emphasis on removing DEI programmes within the FAA has been framed as a way to improve efficiency and safety, but critics have warned that such sweeping changes could create uncertainty within federal agencies and affect the delivery of essential services.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the FAA’s role in ensuring aviation safety will remain a key focus. The timing of Trump’s directive, coinciding with a deadly accident, has put the spotlight on the agency’s leadership and its ability to navigate both personnel changes and ongoing safety challenges.