‘Unacceptable’: Trump Spokeswoman Reaffirms War on DEI at FAA After Fatal Midair Collision

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday pledged that the Trump administration will eliminate DEI practices at the Federal Aviation Administration in the wake of a midair collision Wednesday night that killed 67.

Much of the briefing served to back up President Donald Trump’s implication the day before that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the FAA might have led to the crash over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The president told reporters at the previous press conference, “The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website. Can you imagine?” 

Leavitt opened Friday’s briefing by outlining the president’s work before and after the crash to root out DEI hiring processes from the FAA.

“On his second day in office, the president signed a memorandum to immediately stop Biden DEI hiring programs and return to nondiscriminatory, merit-based hiring,” Leavitt said.

The press secretary also spoke on Trump’s post-collision order for the FAA to review its hiring protocols.

“The review will include a comprehensive assessment and reversal of any deterioration in hiring standards and aviation-safety standards and protocols during the previous administration,” she said.

A female reporter asked Leavitt whether she was worried that more crashes could occur as a result of Trump’s downsizing of the federal government.

In response, Leavitt defended the White House’s merit-based hiring process and argued that Trump was focused on hiring the best and brightest for the FAA.

The spokeswoman called DEI hiring processes “unacceptable,” adding, “When you are flying on an airplane with your loved ones—which every one of us in this room has—do you pray that your plane lands safely and gets you to your destination, or do you pray that the pilot has a certain skin color? I think we all know the answer to that question, and as President Trump said yesterday, it’s common sense.”