Duffy: FAA firings fewer than 400 out of ‘staggering’ 45,000 staffers

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy seemingly defended the recent firings at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday, arguing that the probationary employees who were let go made up only a minor portion of the workforce.

“Here’s the truth: the FAA alone has a staggering 45,000 employees. Less than 400 were let go, and they were all probationary, meaning they had been hired less than a year ago," Duffy wrote in a post to social platform X. "Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go."

He was responding to a post from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who called for more transparency from the agency as employees were notified over the weekend that they were being fired. The email went out late Friday, just weeks after a deadly crash outside of Washington, D.C., put a spotlight on the agency.

One air traffic controller said impacted workers include people hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance.

Duffy previously agreed to work with tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to cut federal spending, though he also expressed the need for the FAA to hire more air traffic controllers and fix its “antiquated” systems.

The Transportation leader slammed Buttigieg in his post on X, arguing that his predecessor failed to address the air traffic controller shortage and update the systems.

“In less than four weeks, we have already begun the process and are engaging the smartest minds in the entire world,” Duffy said.

In a previous post, the secretary asked the American public if there were any individuals or corporations willing to pitch in and upgrade the technology.

“Mayor Pete chose to use this amazing department — that is so critical to America’s success—as a slush fund for the green new scam and environmental justice nonsense,” he wrote.

Duffy challenged Buttigieg, noting that he would like to hear from him once they “get a full accounting” of his management of the department.

The firings come as DOGE officials continue to inspect federal spending at various federal agencies and departments, which has upended operations and workforces across the workforce.

The Trump administration sent buyout offers to many air traffic controllers, but later deemed them ineligible, as well as safety officials and Transportation Security Administration officers.

Currently, the FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of its goal staffing levels, Reuters reported.