Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed President Trump in pointing the finger at diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) practices for a recent midair collision near Washington. The crash involved a commercial jet and a military helicopter late last week.

In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Duffy argued against prioritizing D.E.I. efforts when hiring air traffic controllers. "You can’t focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion when you try to hire air traffic controllers," he said. Vance, appearing on the same network, claimed the policies led to staffing shortages. "The person at the controls didn’t have enough support because we were turning people away for D.E.I. reasons," he stated.

Earlier last week, Trump had also criticized diversity hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.), suggesting the agency’s approach to inclusivity played a role in the crash. However, there is no evidence to support these claims. F.A.A. records show that diversity programs have always upheld the same rigorous standards for aptitude, health, and security as traditional hiring processes.

For instance, a 2019 F.A.A. pilot program aimed at recruiting individuals with disabilities emphasized that all candidates received equal consideration. Despite these assurances, Duffy and Vance have continued to assert, without evidence, that these hiring practices have compromised safety.

The incident has sparked renewed debate over the role of diversity initiatives in critical sectors like aviation. While the investigation into the crash continues, the focus on D.E.I. efforts remains a contentious topic in political circles.