In a bid to address growing concerns over the safety of the United States aviation sector, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), backed by President Donald Trump, is set to implement swift improvements to air traffic control systems. The move comes after a tragic incident on January 29, when a collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in the deaths of all onboard.
The crash, which occurred near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C., has reignited debates over the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) regulatory practices. Former President Trump attributed the issue to what he termed “diversity requirements” within the FAA, stating that jobs like air traffic controllers should be reserved for the most brilliant minds.
Responding to the crisis, Musk, through a statement on his official X account, affirmed that his team at DOGE, with Trump’s support, is working to implement rapid safety upgrades to the U.S. air traffic control system. Musk’s update highlighted recent failures in the FAA’s primary aircraft safety notification system, which experienced hours of downtime just days prior.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by DOGE to improve federal agency operations, with previous commitments to tackling corruption within U.S. healthcare agencies and recent access to the U.S. Treasury Department to address claims of misconduct.
With the aviation sector under scrutiny, Musk and Trump’s collaboration is poised to drive significant changes aimed at preventing further tragedies and restoring confidence in the nation’s air safety systems.
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