Biden’s Aviation Policies Spark Debate Over Safety and Social Priorities

House Aviation Safety Caucus Chairman Nick Langworthy slams the Biden administration for diverting critical aviation safety funds to diversity initiatives, potentially jeopardizing American air travel safety.

Key Takeaways

Rep. Nick Langworthy accuses the Biden administration of prioritizing diversity initiatives over modernizing critical air traffic control systems despite safety concerns
Republicans plan to allocate $12 billion for air traffic control modernization in a new budget proposal under President Trump’s leadership
The Biden administration’s bipartisan infrastructure bill allocated $25 billion to the FAA but lawmakers argue funds were misdirected away from critical safety investments
After a long period of incident-free aviation in the U.S. since 2009, recent air traffic control mishaps have raised significant safety concerns
Langworthy pledges to work with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to secure proper funding and address controller staffing shortages

Biden Administration’s Misplaced Priorities in Aviation Safety

House Aviation Safety Caucus Chairman Nick Langworthy is raising the alarm over what he describes as dangerous misallocation of resources during the Biden administration. According to Langworthy, critical infrastructure funds that should have modernized America’s aging air traffic control systems were instead diverted to social engineering initiatives, specifically diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The congressman points to recent near-misses at major airports as evidence that these decisions have compromised safety in American skies and left the nation’s air traffic control system vulnerable

“That was before I came to Congress, but, you know, you had just mistaken priorities in that, all this DEI policy, DEI staffing, that all got baked into the cake. They could have taken that money and spent it on real modernization of what is critical infrastructure in this country,” Langworthy said.

Langworthy specifically cited the bipartisan infrastructure bill as a missed opportunity to adequately fund air traffic control modernization. While the legislation allocated $25 billion over five years to the FAA, Langworthy contends these funds were insufficient and improperly directed toward ideological initiatives rather than crucial safety improvements. This prioritization has left the air traffic control system struggling with outdated technology and insufficient staffing at a time when air travel demand continues to increase to record levels.

Recent Safety Incidents Raise Concerns

The congressman’s concerns come amid several high-profile near-misses at major U.S. airports over the past year. These incidents have shaken confidence in what had been an impressive safety record. “We had the longest period of incident-free aviation in this country’s history, where we didn’t have a commercial air crash from the time the crash happened in Buffalo, in my district, back in 2009, to just this year, and what happened at [Ronald Reagan Airport]. And it was avoidable,” Langworthy stated, highlighting the preventable nature of recent incidents.

While Langworthy clarified that he wasn’t suggesting DEI policies directly caused specific incidents, he emphasized that funds directed toward social initiatives came at the expense of critical infrastructure improvements and staffing needs. Air traffic controllers have been vocal about working mandatory overtime due to staffing shortages, creating fatigue issues that could potentially compromise safety. Langworthy summed up the situation bluntly: “We need more bodies.”

Biden admin prioritized 'social engineering' over air traffic safety, key aviation Republican says https://t.co/7FruTeUELH

— ConservativeLibrarian (@ConserLibrarian) May 7, 2025

Republican Plans for Aviation Safety Under President Trump

Under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans are preparing to address these concerns with substantial new investments in aviation infrastructure. Langworthy revealed plans to allocate $12 billion specifically for air traffic control modernization in upcoming budget proposals. This funding would target both technological upgrades and staffing challenges that have plagued the system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has already begun working closely with congressional leaders to develop comprehensive solutions to the aviation safety concerns.

“We should be promoting this to young people that want to look at career service in the government. And it comes with a very competitive salary. But it’s a tough job with a lot of hours. And you know, there’s always gonna be stress involved, but we have to prioritize it and not just take it for granted,” Langworthy said.

Beyond funding, Langworthy emphasized the importance of recruiting the next generation of air traffic controllers. He highlighted the competitive salaries and career stability the profession offers while acknowledging the demanding nature of the work. The congressman is advocating for programs to attract young people to these critical positions, recognizing that technological improvements must be paired with sufficient human expertise to ensure safety. This two-pronged approach reflects the administration’s commitment to addressing both immediate and long-term aviation safety concerns.