Transportation officials say carriers must formally affirm the end of race- and sex-based hiring practices or face potential investigation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a mandatory directive requiring all commercial airlines operating in the United States to formally certify that pilot hiring decisions are based strictly on merit, according to reporting by The Epoch Times.
The Department of Transportation said in a Feb. 13 announcement that carriers must confirm they have ended race- and sex-based hiring practices or risk federal investigation. The agency stated that the measure is intended to reinforce compliance with civil rights laws and ensure that flight crew selection is rooted in qualifications, training, and demonstrated ability.
“When families board their aircraft, they should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best of the best,” Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in a statement posted by the department. “The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like or their gender—they just care that they are [the] most qualified man or woman for the job.”
The DOT noted that while the FAA has raised internal performance standards and eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion-related roles within the agency, along with terminating associated contracts, “allegations of airlines hiring based on race and sex remain.”
The directive follows President Donald Trump’s Jan. 21, 2025 executive order titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, as well as his presidential memorandum titled Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation. In the executive order, Trump wrote that critical institutions, including major commercial airlines, had adopted “dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences” under DEI policies that could violate federal civil rights law.
The memorandum directed Duffy and FAA leadership to end all DEI initiatives within the agency.
Just over a week after signing the order, Trump attributed DEI hiring practices at the FAA to policies followed by the previous administration in remarks concerning a Jan. 29, 2025 midair crash that killed 67 people. The incident marked the deadliest U.S. aviation accident since November 2001.
In its announcement, the DOT emphasized that the FAA is authorized to establish minimum safety standards for air carriers and that operational safety depends on the proficiency and knowledge of flight crews. Federal regulations, the agency said, impose rigorous qualification and training requirements for pilots, and the effectiveness of those programs is strengthened when applicants meet required cognitive, technical, and professional standards before selection.
“It is a bare minimum expectation for airlines to hire the most qualified individual when making someone responsible for hundreds of lives at a time,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “Someone’s race, sex, or creed, has nothing to do with their ability to fly and land aircraft safely.”
The announcement comes after America First Legal said in December 2024 that Southwest Airlines and American Airlines agreed to abandon DEI hiring policies following complaints filed by the nonprofit organization.
The FAA has not specified a deadline for certification but indicated that failure to comply could result in additional federal scrutiny.
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