A purge on DEI language in grant applications is clogging the pipeline of desperately needed maintenance workers in the U.S. aerospace industry according to a Reuters report. The news agency said it has seen a letter written by 21 Democratic congress members that says crucial FAA funding is being delayed because new grant applications, free of DEI language, had to be created to replace the applications that had already been filled out by the schools that train new aircraft technicians. “These ongoing delays are stalling critical aviation workforce development at a time when the industry can least afford it,” Reuters quoted the letter as saying. “Any further delay or denial of these critical grants would disregard the law and constitute a dereliction of duty to ensure safety in our skies.”
The money to fund the grants has already been approved by Congress and amounts to tens of millions of dollars used to directly train the next generation of aviation techs. The DEI purge was part of a government-wide program to end the promotion of opportunities for women, minorities, and other groups that are underrepresented in some occupations. But the report says the student mechanics are overwhelmingly male and not many of the DEI targeted groups apply to become aircraft mechanics. Nationally, the aviation industry is said to be about 10% short of the number of techs needed and as manufacturers step up production the shortage is expected to get worse, threatening to cause flight delays while aircraft wait for maintenance and repair.
More wasted money on insignificant change. This is akin to the millions of taxpayer dollars wasted to make the change from Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
ahhh wrong.
Ah…I get it. It’s Trump’s fault. *sigh*…just couldn’t help yourself, huh Russ…? Too bad, AV Brief looked like it could have been a great aviation news source.
Yes, this newsletter had promise but it’s quickly devolving into what it replaced. I cringe every time I look at the comments section. Now I understand why the AOPA news letter does not allow commentary.
Howard’s represents a common view of discourse on these types of stories and that point of view should share this platform. As long as it’s done respectfully and sticks to the topic it has a place here.
Should we just ignore topics and viewpoints that make you uncomfortable, Howard? Not sure how you got to the “Trump’s fault” thing but we’re not going to shy away from stories that have direct impact on the industry, which this clearly does.
Uh…it is.
“ The DEI purge was part of a government-wide program to end the promotion of opportunities for women, minorities and other groups that are underrepresented in some occupations.”
Incorrect.
The DEI purge is part of a Government-Wide program to end promotions and opportunities based on race, gender and other attributes instead of capability and merit.
Incorrect again. DEI is not about “promotions and opportunities based on race, gender and other attributes instead of capability and merit.” It’s about providing opportunities to underrepresented groups who have the required capabilities and merit, in an effort to address the imbalance caused by generations of nepotism, bigotry, and old-boy favoritism.
The point is that a new government policy has slowed down the funding to maintenance training schools. If you are an aircraft maintenance school or someone involved in aircraft maintenance this is news to you. If you are someone who owns an aircraft and is dealing with the shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians this matters to you and you might want to know why the funding that has been appropriated is not getting to the schools. And you might just want to call your representatives and let them know what you think about them squandering your tax dollars on yet another political spat based on ideology and not evidence. Thanks for reporting the news Russ.
> But the report says the student mechanics are overwhelmingly male and not many of the DEI targeted groups apply to become aircraft mechanics.
What is the result if a DEI policy includes quotas on grants for specific groups, and not enough of those specific groups apply?
My best teachers always taught – go to the dictionary. So I thought I’d contribute by leaving this here:
DiversityDefinition: Having a mix of different kinds of people or viewpoints.
Opposite: Sameness or uniformity.
EquityDefinition: Making things fair by giving people the support they need, not necessarily the same support for everyone.
Opposite: Unfairness or inequity.
InclusionDefinition: Making sure everyone feels welcome and able to take part.
Opposite: Exclusion.
BTW I truly support comments here, even if people of any stripe just want to – while retaining decorum – vent.
glad that dei b.s. is gone foe everyone.