{"id":2397457,"date":"2025-01-31T10:56:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T15:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-wants-highest-possible-standards-for-pilots-air-traffic-controllers\/"},"modified":"2025-01-31T10:56:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T15:56:46","slug":"hegseth-wants-highest-possible-standards-for-pilots-air-traffic-controllers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-wants-highest-possible-standards-for-pilots-air-traffic-controllers\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth wants &#8216;highest possible standards&#8217; for pilots, air traffic controllers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhegseth-wants-highest-possible-standards-for-pilots-air-traffic-controllers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2397457&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a recent\u200c statement following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-consulted-prolific-conspiracy-theorist-laurence-tribe-on-cdc-eviction-moratorium\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Consulted Prolific Conspiracy Theorist Laurence Tribe On CDC Eviction Moratorium\">tragic plane crash<\/a> near Ronald Reagan Washington National \u200cAirport, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized\u2064 the need for &#8220;the highest possible standards&#8221; in the selection of pilots and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">air \u200ctraffic controllers<\/a>. He criticized the focus on diversity in hiring practices, arguing that the primary concern should be on excellence and safety rather than the backgrounds of candidates.Hegseth stressed that identity factors such\u2064 as gender and skin color should not influence the hiring process, as what matters most is finding \u2063the best \u200bqualified individuals \u200dfor the job. This sentiment aligns with remarks made by President Donald Trump, who also condemned diversity and inclusion\u2062 hiring policies and called for a merit-based approach in aviation and defense sectors. Hegseth affirmed that \u2063the \u200cDefense department \u2063will prioritize merit, reiterating the importance \u200bof having the most \u200bcapable personnel in crucial roles to ensure public safety and effective operations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hegseth calls for &lsquo;highest possible standards&rsquo; when selecting pilots and air traffic controllers<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1965333\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/defense-department\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Defense<\/a> Secretary&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pete Hegseth<\/a>&nbsp;called for the &ldquo;highest possible standards&rdquo; when selecting pilots and air traffic controllers following Wednesday&rsquo;s deadly<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/plane-crashes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> plane crash<\/a> near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The environment around which we choose pilots or air traffic controllers, as the president <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3306338\/two-trumps-display-wake-potomac-plane-crash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">pointed out<\/a> correctly yesterday, better be the highest possible standard,&rdquo; Hegseth told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fox-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Fox News&rsquo;s <\/a><em>Fox and Friends.<\/em> &ldquo;The best of the best who are managing a flight a minute and managing radio traffic.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to hiring military personnel, pilots, or air traffic controllers, people&rsquo;s identities come second to their ability to keep people safe, Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share.php?id=2782238&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=a22b0427035145f7ee6ed56b89c7a1c3\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care about your background, you gender, or your skin color, I want the best,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When the president says merit-based and colorblind, he&rsquo;s exactly right across government.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So, he&rsquo;s correct to point out, at the FAA or in our flights, it should not be about anything other than excellence. That&rsquo;s it, excellence. I don&rsquo;t care about the color of the skin of the pilot on my plane or of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/search-and-rescue-teams-at-site-of-indonesian-plane-crash\/\" title=\"Search and rescue teams at site of Indonesian plane crash\">air traffic controller<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump ripped into the aviation DEI hiring policies during a Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3305573\/trump-rails-against-dei-at-press-conference-on-cause-of-fatal-dc-plane-crash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">press conference<\/a> and blasted the Federal Aviation Administration diversity push for hiring, which included a focus on people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You must have only the highest standards to work in our aviation system,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;I put safety first. Obama, Biden, and the Democrats put the policy first, and they put politics at a level that nobody&rsquo;s ever seen because this was the lowest level. Their policy was horrible, and their politics was even worse.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The push for DEI-based quotas will end at the Defense Department, Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been made very clear across all of our services and commands, it is merit only, and that means we&rsquo;ll get the best of the best, and that&rsquo;s what our taxpayers and the American people expect and deserve,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In the business of war-fighting is in, which the Defense Department is in, if you don&rsquo;t have the best of the best, you lose people, and that&rsquo;s why this is so important.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1965333\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1965333\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hegseth urges top standards for pilot and air traffic controller selection<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2644,"featured_media":2397458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Hegseth-Byron-York-scaled-1024x685.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[14743,45173,8596],"class_list":["post-2397457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aviation","tag-hegseth","tag-pilots"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Hegseth-Byron-York-scaled-1024x685.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2397457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2644"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2397457"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2397457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2397461,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2397457\/revisions\/2397461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2397458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2397457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2397457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2397457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}