Who are the FAA employees being laid off and why are they essential to aviation safety?

The laid-off FAA employees include critical air traffic control personnel, maintenance technicians who maintain physical infrastructure, aviation safety inspectors who oversee air carrier compliance with regulations, and aeronautical specialists who develop charts and maps for air traffic control. These professionals are essential because they maintain the technical systems that keep air traffic moving safely and efficiently. As David Spiro emphasized, these roles aren't expendable - they 'grind the gears' of the aviation system, allowing front-line safety personnel to focus on their specialized work rather than administrative tasks or infrastructure concerns.