Congressman Blames Diversity Funding for Air Traffic Control Crisis

A leading Republican congressman is accusing the previous Biden administration of exacerbating the current air traffic control (ATC) challenges by prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over modernizing the nation’s aging aviation infrastructure. Representative Nick Langworthy of New York, a prominent figure as the chairman of the House Aviation Safety Caucus, asserts that a critical opportunity was missed to address the growing ATC issues during the crafting and implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Langworthy contends that resources that could have been channeled towards crucial upgrades to the ATC system were instead directed towards DEI programs and staffing. He argues that this misallocation of funds has compromised the safety and efficiency of air travel, pointing to recent incidents as evidence of the system’s vulnerability.

"They could have taken that money and spent it on real modernization of what is critical infrastructure in this country," Langworthy stated in an interview. He highlighted the unprecedented period of aviation safety the nation enjoyed prior to recent incidents, emphasizing the avoidable nature of these events. He alluded to a recent near-miss at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, suggesting that a more modern and robust ATC system could have prevented it.

The congressman’s remarks come in the wake of several concerning aviation incidents. A power outage at Newark Liberty International Airport caused a temporary disruption to air traffic control screens. Additionally, a collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane near Washington, D.C. raised further alarm about the safety of the airspace.

While Langworthy clarified that he does not believe DEI policies directly impacted ATC operations, he emphasized that funding decisions played a pivotal role. He argued that resources were diverted from essential infrastructure projects, such as aviation modernization, to pursue "social engineering" initiatives. He cited local examples of infrastructure projects that he believes were prioritized over critical transportation needs.

"Aviation is infrastructure. It’s transportation. It should have been spent then. Instead, they did all this social engineering with money and didn’t focus on what has been a glaring problem for the federal government for many years — modernizing our aviation infrastructure," Langworthy declared.

While the bipartisan infrastructure bill did allocate $25 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over five years for modernization efforts, Langworthy and other lawmakers believe this amount was insufficient to address the scale of the problem. Republicans are now proposing a $12 billion investment in ATC modernization as part of President Trump’s budget reconciliation plan.

Langworthy emphasized the urgent need to address staffing shortages within the ATC system. He shared insights gained from meetings with air traffic controllers in his district, where the message was consistent: "We need more bodies." He stressed the importance of attracting young people to careers in air traffic control, highlighting the competitive salaries and opportunities for government service. He acknowledged the demanding nature of the job but underscored the need to prioritize and adequately resource the profession.

Langworthy pledged his support for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the president’s plan to modernize the nation’s aviation infrastructure. He committed to advocating for the necessary funding to address the issue and ensure the safety of the flying public.

"When Secretary Duffy and the president roll this out as a spending priority, we have to frontload this process. We have to get them the resources that they need to get this done, because the flying public — everyone’s lives hang in the balance on this," Langworthy asserted.

The debate over the allocation of resources and the prioritization of DEI initiatives versus infrastructure modernization is likely to intensify as Congress considers future funding measures for the FAA and the broader transportation sector. Langworthy’s comments reflect a growing concern among some lawmakers about the potential consequences of diverting resources from critical infrastructure needs in pursuit of other policy objectives. He is not alone in his call for a renewed focus on investing in the modernization of the ATC system to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel.