How did the recent FAA firings affect air traffic controller positions and aviation safety?

According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the firings at the FAA did not impact critical safety positions. Out of 45,000 FAA employees, fewer than 400 (less than 1% of the workforce) lost their jobs, and these were primarily newer employees who had been with the agency for less than a year and didn't hold safety-related positions. Air traffic controllers and safety inspectors were specifically exempted from these cuts. Duffy emphasized that the critical employees responsible for maintaining aviation safety remained on the job, while suggesting the controversy was politically motivated rather than safety-related.