Fact check: Did trump fire air traffic controllers before the crash?

1. Summary of the results

There is no evidence that Trump fired air traffic controllers before any crash. Multiple sources explicitly confirm this:

• The White House spokesperson directly stated "We have not fired any air traffic controllers" ^{[1] [1]}
• Aviation experts confirmed that Trump's actions would not have had an immediate impact on air traffic control operations ^[2]
• A conservative writer specifically noted "There was no hiring freeze for ATC [Air Traffic Control]" ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

While no firings occurred, Trump did take several administrative actions that are important to understand:

• He signed a federal hiring freeze ^[4]
• He signed a memorandum ending DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hiring policies at the FAA ^{[4] [1]}
• The precise details of the crash in question remain unknown ^[3]
• Trump has made public comments criticizing diversity initiatives in air traffic control following the crash ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The circulation of this claim appears to be a case of misinformation that conflates several different events:

• Some sources specifically reference an unsubstantiated claim about "3,000 air traffic controllers" being fired ^{[4] [1]}
• This narrative appears to mix Trump's actual policy changes regarding DEI initiatives with false claims about mass firings
• The timing of this misinformation seems to coincide with Trump's commentary on a recent plane crash ^[6]

Those who benefit from spreading this narrative might include:

• Political opponents looking to tie Trump's administrative actions to safety concerns
• Advocates of DEI initiatives who oppose Trump's policy changes
• Media outlets seeking engagement through controversial claims about aviation safety