1. United States
2. Letter

The Federal Aviation Administration has been chronically understaffed for years, a situation that has now reached a crisis point. The recent termination of hundreds of probationary air traffic controllers and support personnel is only exacerbating this dire staffing shortage. Bringing in a team from SpaceX with no direct aviation experience cannot be a substitute for restoring the workforce cuts. We need qualified, trained professionals working at the FAA now to ensure the safety of our national airspace. Reversing the layoffs and ending the hiring freeze is critical. Air travel is increasing, putting more strain on an already overburdened system. Relying on unproven technologies instead of human expertise risks hampering the FAA's ability to effectively manage air traffic control operations. Public safety must be the top priority. Rehiring those who were fired and swiftly bringing on new employees is paramount to maintaining robust staffing levels required for our aviation system to function properly. Stopgap measures like corporate partnerships are no replacement for rebuilding the FAA's workforce.