The US Federal Aviation istration (FAA) has made staff cuts as part of a government shake-up. According to a union, 133 employees have been laid off, including aeronautical information specialists, maintenance mechanics, aviation security assistants and environmental protection specialists.
Even with the layoffs, the FAA said it is continuing to hire air traffic controllers and other safety personnel. The U.S. Department of Transportation defended the cuts, saying only probationary workers were laid off. The internal overhaul is being pushed by the Trump istration. The impact of the changes on aviation safety has not yet been detailed.
The world's largest civil aviation regulator has been struggling with a shortage of air traffic controllers in recent years, with the agency acknowledging that many of its facilities are operating understaffed.
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