Fact check: Are air traffic controllers being offered buyouts to quit?

1. Summary of the results

While FAA employees did receive an offer to resign with eight months' pay, air traffic controllers were specifically not eligible for this buyout program, despite initially receiving the offer ^{[1] [2]}. This was officially clarified by the Office of Personnel Management ^[2]. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) actively advised its members not to accept the offer due to lack of clarity about eligible positions ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context were omitted from the original question:

• The resignation offer was sent just one day before a deadly midair collision ^[3]
• There is currently an existing staffing shortage of air traffic controllers ^[2]
• The email specifically suggested employees quit to find "more useful work" ^[2]
• A separate, unrelated incident occurred at San Carlos Airport where controllers resigned after contract reassignments ^[4]
• Air traffic controllers are exempt from the hiring freeze that affected other FAA positions ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple yes/no nature of the original question obscures several important factors:

• The confusion likely stems from the poor implementation of the buyout program, where ineligible employees (controllers) received the offer anyway ^[1]
• The union's concerns about aviation safety highlight the potential dangers of encouraging experienced controllers to leave during a staffing shortage ^[5]
• Different stakeholders have opposing interests:

The FAA appears to be trying to reduce staff in certain areas

NATCA is working to protect both its members and aviation safety

• The Office of Personnel Management had to step in to clarify the confusion created by the FAA's communication