Vance Defends Trump’s DEI Criticism After Deadly Air Collision

Vice President JD Vance supported Donald Trump’s claim that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies contributed to a fatal collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight, linking them to FAA staffing shortages. “DEI policies have led our air traffic controllers to be short-staffed; that is a scandal,” Vance told Fox News.

The crash, which killed 67 people at Ronald Reagan Airport, occurred while a single air traffic controller managed traffic. Trump blamed Obama- and Biden-era FAA hiring practices, saying the agency prioritized diversity over skills. “We have to have our smartest people,” he said.

A 2019 lawsuit alleges FAA hiring changes excluded qualified candidates. Will Trachman, lead counsel, criticized Biden’s administration for expanding DEI policies, stating, “They dug in and tried to go bigger on diversity measures.”