FAA Keeping All Positions Involving Safety

Positions involving the oversight of safety at the Federal Aviation Administration will remain intact, says new Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.

Duffy was sworn in last week.

President Donald Trump is tinkering with government positions for budgetary reasons, but Duffy said some spots in the FAA will remain exempt from being laid off or buyouts. Those spots have oversight over safety.

“So, in regard to the employment freeze, we had almost 1,200 positions that were critical safety positions that were exempted,” Duffy told CNN on Sunday. “Those included air traffic controllers. Actually, this last week, we had new air traffic controllers that were hired.”

Almost 150 open positions have been re-added as of Sunday, including several air traffic control openings.

“We also had postings online to bring in new air traffic controllers. So air traffic controllers were exempted from a hiring freeze, as well as other safety positions like inspectors. In regard to offers for people to take early retirement, for our department, actually, the critical positions in regard to safety are not offered that early retirement,” he said.

Nearly all federal employees were sent offers to resign by Feb. 6 or face potential termination. 

“They can’t spin this away. The Trump administration contacted air traffic controllers, offering buyouts to leave their jobs. It’s a very easily proven fact,” former DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg said on X.

“We’re going to keep all our safety positions in place, no early retirement. We’re all going to stay and work and make sure our skies are safe,” Duffy said.

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