The Trump administration issued termination notices to hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees over the weekend.

The layoffs come amid concerns over staffing shortages in air traffic control towers, highlighted by a fatal crash in Washington, D.C., three weeks ago that claimed 67 lives. While none of the affected employees work in control towers, experts remain concerned about the broader impact.

According to the president of the Professional Aviation Specialists’ Union, 300 members received notices, including mechanics, information specialists, and aviation safety assistants. However, air traffic controllers—who face a nationwide shortage of over 3,000—were not among those dismissed.

Aviation expert Mike McCarron believes the short-term impact will be minimal but warns that these roles will eventually need to be filled. With over 25 years of experience at San Francisco International Airport, McCarron emphasized that although these employees may not interact directly with aircraft, they still play a vital role in the nation’s air safety system.

Conversely, retired airline pilot Doug Rice downplayed the significance of the firings, arguing that those affected are not frontline personnel such as air traffic controllers, safety inspectors, or maintenance specialists. He noted that the FAA employs around 50,000 people, making this reduction relatively small.

An FAA spokesperson stated on social media that the agency has retained employees in safety-critical roles and continues hiring air traffic controllers, mechanics, and other essential staff. Further details on the layoffs are expected once FAA administrative offices reopen after the President’s Day holiday.