In a controversial move, the Trump administration has begun a significant reduction in FAA staffing, laying off hundreds of employees shortly after a fatal plane crash in Washington D.C. Families affected by the tragedy are already filing substantial claims against the government, intensifying calls for accountability. The layoffs, which are part of a broader government reduction strategy, are raising alarms among air safety experts and current FAA employees, who express concerns that these firings could jeopardize public safety in the skies. Critics, including prominent lawmakers, emphasize that such cuts come at a time when the FAA is already grappling with staffing shortages. The impacts of these firings are being closely monitored by air-traffic unions and safety watchdogs, who warn that further disasters could become more likely as experienced personnel are lost. With under 400 workers fired as part of this purge, nearly 45,000 remain, but the ongoing tensions suggest that the infrastructure regulating U.S. aviation faces substantial challenges ahead.