Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation

This memorandum directs the Secretary of Transportation and FAA Administrator to immediately end DEI hiring initiatives and return to merit-based hiring for safety-critical aviation positions. It also orders a review of past performance of all individuals in critical safety positions, with replacement of those deemed to lack requisite capability.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8651

Impact dates

Apr 21, 2025
Review past performance of critical safety position personnel
Jan 21, 2025
Immediate rescission of DEI initiatives and return to merit-based hiring

Key directives

Immediately rescind all DEI initiatives and 'dangerous preferencing policies'
Return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring
Review past performance and performance standards of all individuals in critical safety positions
Replace individuals who fail or have failed to demonstrate requisite capability with high-capability individuals

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

DEI initiatives rescinded
return to merit-based hiring mandated
review of critical safety position personnel begins

Near term (90d)

Performance reviews of individuals in critical safety positions
Potential replacement actions for personnel failing capability standards

Long term

Potential restructuring of FAA hiring and promotion systems
Possible litigation from affected employees or advocacy groups

Risks & tensions

Vague standard for 'requisite capability' and 'high-capability individual' creates legal and operational uncertainty
Potential for disruptive mass personnel changes in safety-critical roles
Likely legal challenges under civil service protections and anti-discrimination laws
Tension between political directive and established federal employment procedures
Document's characterization of prior hiring practices may not reflect actual FAA medical/physical standards for safety positions