For decades, America led the world in aviation safety. Our pilots were the best trained, our controllers the most skilled, and our skies the safest to fly in. According to FAA statistics, U.S. commercial aviation maintained a perfect safety record from 2009 through 2023.

But somewhere along the way, something changed. Federal agencies began prioritizing different standards in their hiring practices. The focus shifted from pure competency to other considerations, raising quiet concerns among aviation veterans.

Those concerns came to a tragic head on January 30, 2025, in the skies above our nation’s capital, when what experts are calling an “entirely preventable” disaster unfolded before horrified onlookers.

When Common Sense Takes Flight

Following the devastating collision between a military helicopter and passenger aircraft over the Potomac River, President Trump didn’t mince words about the root cause. In a bold statement that’s sending shockwaves through federal agencies, he directly challenged the FAA’s hiring practices.

“The FAA’s website states they include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism, all qualify for the position of a controller,” Trump revealed, reading directly from agency documents.

Captain John Reynolds, a 30-year veteran pilot and safety consultant, agrees: “Air traffic control requires peak mental and physical performance. There’s no room for compromise.”

Merit Matters Most

“For some jobs… They have to be at the highest level of genius,” Trump declared at the January 30 press conference. His words cut through years of regulatory confusion, placing American lives above political agendas.

When pressed about whether this would mean removing “diversity hires,” Trump’s response was characteristically direct: “I would say the answer is yes, if we find that people aren’t mentally competent.”

The statement marks a decisive return to merit-based standards that once made American aviation the global gold standard. In the 1980s, these standards helped achieve the lowest accident rates in aviation history.

Safety Over Social Engineering

Trump’s commitment to restoring excellence isn’t just talk. His administration has already ordered the shutdown of DEI offices across federal agencies, signaling a broader return to merit-based hiring practices.

“This is a major chess game at the highest level,” Trump explained, describing air traffic control. “When you have 60 planes coming in during a short period of time, they’re all coming at different directions and you’re dealing with high level computer work and very complex computers.”

Back to American Excellence

The path forward is clear. Merit-based hiring saved lives before. It can do so again.

As investigations into the DC collision continue, one truth stands out: American lives depend on having the most qualified people in critical positions.

Key Takeaways

• Federal ‘diversity’ initiatives compromised critical safety standards in aviation.
• Trump pledges immediate action to restore merit-based hiring in key positions.
• American lives must take priority over political correctness in public safety.
• Strong leadership means returning to proven standards of excellence.

Sources: The Post Millennial