[ [link removed] ]Will you sign the petition to demand that our government fully fund the
Federal Aviation Administration and staff air traffic controllers?

Dear fellow MoveOn member, 

My name is Dwight, and I'm deeply troubled by the state of our Federal
Aviation Administration and air traffic controllers. We need to have the
best system of air traffic control we can, not the understaffed,
overworked, and short-funded system we have today. Roughly 2.9 million
people fly our airlines every day, and I'm one of the 90% of Americans who
have taken a commercial flight in their lifetime.^1,2 Air traffic control
is a unique and complex government function that has serious implications
for nearly every American. This week's shocking plane crash in Toronto
comes on the heels of last month's tragic fatal airline crash in
Washington, D.C., as well as incidents in Philadelphia, Alaska, and
Georgia.^3 These incidents must be met with serious and credible scrutiny
NOW.

The Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto crashed on landing,
resulting in multiple injuries, including a child.^4 And last month's
crash at the Ronald Reagan National Airport killed 67 people, including a
law professor, a new dad, and young aspiring skating champions and their
coaches.^5 Their families are grieving this senseless and preventable
loss. They deserve better than excuses. They deserve compassion,
leadership, and answers. 

[ [link removed] ]Instead of politicizing this crisis, we need all elected leaders—from
President Donald Trump to every member of Congress—to take this
responsibility seriously and ensure that our airspace is safe. Will you
sign the petition?

Disturbingly, most of the U.S. air traffic control facilities have been
understaffed for years due to government leaders failing to invest in
adequate recruitment and staffing.^6 Instead of making air traffic control
a priority in his second term, Trump froze the hiring of additional air
traffic controllers, gutted key air safety protections, and fired FAA
leadership. And air traffic controllers were among the federal officials
offered buyouts by the Trump administration.^7

Lives are on the line. When we neglect air safety protections and fail to
maintain a strong air traffic workforce, we all pay the cost. 

[ [link removed] ]When tragedy strikes, people can and should look to their elected
leaders for answers and action. Add your name to the petition to insist
that our government make it a priority to fully fund the Federal Aviation
Administration and staff air traffic controllers NOW!

No more excuses. We deserve to fly with peace of mind knowing that our
flight safety systems are invested in and staffed appropriately. 

[4]Sign the petition

Nearly 90% of our country’s air traffic control facilities fall below the
FAA's recommended staffing levels.^8

It's not just the lack of staffing at the FAA that's a concern—it's also
its infrastructure. The technology for air traffic control is over a
half-decade old and needs updating. A report found that 37% of the FAA's
138 air traffic control systems "were deemed unsustainable." And the
maintenance, repair, and replacement for these parts is hard to come by
and expensive.^9

And Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have been proposing to
privatize the FAA for years, prioritizing special interests and big
airlines over the safety of all travelers.^10 So it's clearly in their
interest to defund it and then take advantage of tragedies like the crash
outside of D.C. to advance their agenda of turning the FAA from a publicly
controlled agency to a private entity to boost profits of the airline
industry.

It's clear: Our airspace and air traffic management systems are in a
critical state. Flying is one of the safest modes of transportation. But
if we want to keep it that way, we have to address these gaps before we're
met with more tragedy.

We need a real investment in our airspace—ensuring that it is properly
staffed and maintained—and that requires this administration making it a
priority. We need real leadership, not excuses or impulsive executive
orders. 

[ [link removed] ]Click here to sign the petition, then share with three friends to help
spread the word.

Thanks for all you do.

–Dwight S., MoveOn member

Sources: 

1. "Air Traffic By The Numbers," Federal Aviation Administration, accessed
February 5, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

2. "A Record Number of Americans Have Now Flown Commercially," Travel
Pulse, March 22, 2023
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

3. "Delta Flight Crashes While Landing In Toronto—What To Know," Forbes,
February 17, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

4. Ibid.

5. "As D.C. plane crash victims are identified, stories emerge of a new
dad, a law professor, champion skating coaches and rising stars," CBS
News, February 6, 2025
[link removed]

6. "Staffing Was 'Not Normal' at Reagan Airport Tower, According to F.A.A.
Report," The New York Times, January 30, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

7. "Air traffic controllers were initially offered buyouts and told to
consider leaving government," Associated Press, January 31, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

8. "Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows," CBS
News, January 31, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

9. "Some FAA systems are a half-century old, as aging tech suffers from
lack of replacement parts and support service," Fortune, February 1, 2025
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

8. "Trump Announces Plan To Privatize Air Traffic Control," NPR, June 5,
2017
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

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