What was the impact of recent FAA firings on aviation safety positions?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clarified that despite recent firings at the FAA, all critical safety positions remained intact. Out of approximately 45,000 FAA employees, fewer than 400 people (less than 1% of the workforce) lost their jobs, and these were primarily new employees who had been with the agency for less than a year in non-safety roles. The critical safety positions, including air traffic controllers and safety inspectors, were specifically exempted from these cuts. Duffy emphasized that the personnel responsible for maintaining aviation safety standards continue to perform their essential duties, ensuring that air travel safety has not been compromised by these staffing adjustments.