In the wake of the catastrophic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. military helicopter near Washington, DC — one of the deadliest in more than two decades — President Donald Trump has falsely pointed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies as a possible contributor to the crash. Though there are urgent questions surrounding aviation safety and regulatory oversight, Trump has suggested that DEI initiatives “could have been” to blame despite no factual connection between diversity efforts and the circumstances of the crash.
Yet, just days before this devastating collision, Trump made a decision that leaves questions about his judgement. Based on a report from the New Republic, he eliminated the full membership of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aviation Security Advisory Committee, a move that effectively removed key leadership that has overseen regulatory compliance and risk mitigation within the industry since 1988. He also fired David Pekoske, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The FAA currently lacks a Senate-confirmed leader as well since Michael Whitaker stepped down as administrator on Jan. 20.
Now, as investigators work to determine the actual cause of the recent crash, Trump appears to be steering public attention away from his administration’s aviation policy changes and toward a fabricated culture war narrative.
The Collision And Its Fallout
On the night of Jan. 29, an American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 people from Wichita, KS, collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers over the Washington, DC, area. The impact was catastrophic. There were no survivors. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since launched an investigation, but details about what led to the disaster remain unclear. As CNN highlights, aviation experts emphasize that commercial and military pilots are extensively trained to navigate complex airspace, which makes this accident particularly alarming.
Among the victims were members of the military and the figure skating community, including young figure skaters and their families, as well as former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who had been coaching at a developmental camp in Wichita.
The Recurring DEI Narrative
As reported by CNBC, Trump expressed his condolences but also launched an attack on DEI, suggesting that efforts to improve workplace equity had somehow compromised aviation standards. His claims, devoid of evidence, follow a broader pattern of right-wing rhetoric that seeks to frame DEI as a threat rather than what it actually is: a framework designed to remove barriers, limit bias, and ensure that the most qualified individuals — regardless of race, gender, or background — are given equal opportunities. Further, the claims went as far as to blame former President Joe Biden and his push for DEI strategies as a rationale for the tragedy.
Aviation safety is governed by stringent federal regulations, exhaustive training protocols, and extensive performance-based assessments. There is no evidence that DEI efforts have weakened these standards. The timing of the aviation committee’s dismissal juxtaposed with the tragic event is deeply concerning. Yet, instead of answering for the potential impact of his administration’s actions, Trump has deflected attention onto DEI, igniting yet another manufactured layer of controversy.
While fingers are pointed at DEI as the cause, it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint how it contributes to the issue. What happened on Jan. 29 in Washington, DC, should focus on governing aviation safety policies, FAA regulatory oversight, and the decisions made by top leadership.
