Trump Blames D.C. Plane Crash on Diversity Programs Amid Backlash Over FAA Shakeup

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump and his administration officials ignited a firestorm of criticism on Thursday after blaming the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., on “diversity” programs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The midair collision with a U.S. Army helicopter remains under investigation, and no evidence has surfaced linking diversity initiatives to the tragedy.

The baseless claim quickly drew sharp condemnation, including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who pointed out that Trump had recently purged key aviation safety officials from their posts following advice from billionaire Elon Musk.

“I represent LaGuardia Airport as well as workers for JFK,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “Trump gutted the Aviation Safety Committee last week. Air traffic controllers—already understaffed—got Trump’s ‘buyout’ this week with a one-week ultimatum to decide.” She then placed the blame squarely on the president and Musk, rather than diversity programs. “It’s not DEI—it’s him. And Elon too,” she concluded told Newsweek.

The controversial “buyout” offer, which closely resembles Musk’s mass layoff strategy after acquiring Twitter (now X), isn’t a traditional buyout. Instead, it gives air traffic controllers the option to delay being fired for eight months if they agree not to challenge the Trump administration’s new return-to-office mandates.

The claim that diversity programs have weakened aviation safety has long been a talking point in far-right circles. The conspiracy theory gained traction last year when MAGA youth activist Charlie Kirk falsely suggested that Black pilots were being hired without meeting qualification standards.

Even the Trump campaign previously expressed concern that Kirk’s inflammatory remarks could alienate Black voters—a key demographic they have struggled to win over. Aviation experts have dismissed the notion that diversity initiatives compromise safety, noting that FAA hiring standards remain rigorous and unchanged.

The agency mandates extensive training and testing for pilots and air traffic controllers, regardless of race or gender. Trump’s remarks and the subsequent backlash highlight the growing influence of right-wing narratives in shaping policy decisions, even at the risk of undermining public confidence in critical safety institutions.

As investigators continue to examine the cause of the crash, critics argue that Trump’s attempt to deflect responsibility onto diversity programs is both misleading and dangerous, distracting from the real challenges facing aviation safety under his administration.