I saw a video about a year ago where the creator said basically the same thing that Trump said. He claimed (without proof) that the FAA lowered the standards so more minorities could be ATCs.
Looks like this would have been the person in charge at the time:
Two comments on what Vance said:
(1) It kind of pegs my irony meter to have Vance giving a lecture on having the highest standards in hiring a few days after casting the tie-breaking vote to make Hegseth the Secretary of DoD.
(2) Notice how Vance has turned Trump’s claims into something that is unfalsifiable. I.e., even if it turns out that all parties involved were white males, they can argue that the DEI programs put stresses on them that caused them to f*ck up.
The end goal is to relegalize discrimination.
They will claim it’s for safety reasons to start of course, but the purge of minorities and women from positions of leadership and jobs where they “don’t belong” is already starting.
The great resegregation of America has begun.
Could be all three, a trifecta.
If either pilot or the ATC had been black, we’d know already. They would have been doxxed and their life put at risk.
The vague fishing around of DEI policy being the problem, means that everyone involved so far has been frustratingly white male het.
If I’m not a white het male, why would I want to be an ATC after this?
To be honest, given the stress involved, I don’t see how anyone would want to be an air traffic controller.
You think this is a bug. By the logic of the Trump administration, this is a feature.
Modern Problems.
Hey, a whole generation grew up watching a successful African-American ATC on TV:
I haven’t seen this mentioned here yet but there has already been BS on right wing websites claiming the pilot of the Blackhawk was this trans woman who is in the Virginia National Guard. They had to post a “proof of life” video on Facebook to get most of it to stop.
Money and benefits.
I’ve not only worked with ATCs as a pilot I’ve met a few face to face. There actually is job satisfaction, particularly away from the most crowded/crazy hubs. Sure, it’s stressful, so are lots of other jobs. Unlike being, say, a police officer an ATC doesn’t have to worry about being shot on the job. Just one example.
Thanks. But when things go south, many lives can be lost.
True. Which is why so much effort is put into avoiding things going south.
Or in one word: apartheid. (Elon will be a great resource during its establishment!)
Hegseth is the ultimate LBM hire. (Loyalty Before Merit.)
Or maybe he’s not actually the ultimate. It’s a tough field to rank.
Had to add this scene from my beloved “West Wing:”
ETA: VIDEO (95s)
Right now, quoting or referencing The West Wing is akin to offering a big, enticing slice of carrot cake to a type-1 diabetic. Just, hold onto that for now.
Missing extremities?! How does losing a leg affect one’s ability to control air traffic? 
Senator Duckworth, who knows something about aviation and missing extremities, needs to go and kick Trump’s ass from here to next Monday! Figuratively for sure, literally if needs be.
The irony of this is shining with a golden hue so bright it is hurting my eyes.