Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered an important update on Friday morning in the aftermath of the tragic air crash that occurred in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening.
In an interview on Fox & Friends, Hegseth addressed the situation by partially attributing the incident to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Co-host Ainsley Earhardt initiated the discussion by highlighting concerns regarding the control tower’s operations. She referenced Congressman Troy Nehls, who noted that the airport in question, recognized as the busiest runway in the nation, required 30 personnel in the control tower but had only 19 at the time of the crash. Additionally, she mentioned a lawsuit claiming that the FAA had rejected nearly a thousand air traffic controller applicants based solely on their race last year. Furthermore, it was reported that the FAA had implemented a national outreach initiative for Diversity, Training, and Inclusion (DTI), which included efforts to recruit individuals with significant intellectual disabilities and psychiatric issues.
Earhardt emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “When you’re a mom and you’re a dad and you’re putting your kids on the plane or you’re flying as a family, that’s unacceptable. We don’t care your race. We want to make sure whoever’s in there that it’s fully manned. And we want to make sure they’re qualified.”
Hegseth concurred, stating, “Completely unacceptable, Ainsley. You’re exactly right. I don’t have the specifics on how staffing was managed in that particular air traffic control tower, but it appears there was a shortage, and the investigation will provide further insights. However, as the president correctly pointed out yesterday, the standards for selecting pilots and air traffic controllers must be the highest possible, ensuring that only the best individuals are responsible for managing multiple flights and radio communications.”
He further remarked, “The closest analogy to military service is found in the roles of pilots or air traffic controllers. I do not concern myself with their backgrounds, race, gender, or socioeconomic status; my priority is that they are competent and capable.”
The president’s assertion regarding merit-based and colorblind principles in government is entirely accurate. He rightly emphasizes that in agencies such as the FAA and within our aviation sector, the focus should solely be on excellence. The qualifications of the pilot or air traffic controller should not be influenced by their skin color, as stated by Hegseth.
He further criticized the previous administration for prioritizing such considerations, suggesting that under Biden, there has been an undue emphasis on these factors, including the implementation of perceived quotas within the Defense Department, which are now being abolished.
Hegseth noted that it has been clearly communicated across all military services and commands that merit is the sole criterion for evaluation. This approach ensures that the most qualified individuals are selected, which is what taxpayers and the American populace rightfully expect. In the context of military operations, having the best personnel is crucial; failure to do so can result in loss of life, underscoring the significance of this policy shift.
During a press briefing at the White House, the president began by observing a moment of silence for the victims, describing it as a time of “anguish.” He lamented the absence of survivors, stating, “Sadly, there are no survivors.”
He expressed comfort in the belief that the victims’ journey concluded not in the frigid waters of the Potomac, but in the loving embrace of a higher power. The president also mentioned ongoing efforts to ascertain the details surrounding the incident, announcing the appointment of Christopher Rocheleau as the acting commissioner of the FAA, a respected veteran of the agency.
Additionally, Trump criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, labeling him a “disaster” who merely offered empty rhetoric. He pointed out that the FAA’s guidelines on diversity hiring were last revised on March 23, 2022, indicating an intention to further emphasize these policies before his administration took over.
