In the wake of a devastating plane crash in Washington, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finds itself at the center of a heated debate regarding its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices. Critics, including former President Trump, have called for an immediate review of these initiatives, arguing that the prioritization of diversity over merit has potentially compromised aviation safety. Reports allege that the FAA rejected a significant number of applicants based on race, leading to staffing shortages that some believe contributed to the crash. Furthermore, whistleblowers within the aviation sector have claimed that DEI policies directly affected their job prospects and the overall safety of air traffic control, with some asserting that a crash was an inevitable outcome of these practices. The controversy has sparked accusations and inquiries into the validity of DEI policies, with discussions emphasizing that safety and merit should be the foremost priorities in air traffic control hiring decisions.