The Federal Aviation Administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies led to a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, according to an attorney representing plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit.

More than 1,000 would-be air traffic controllers were removed from consideration due to DEI hiring targets suddenly being implemented, attorney Michael Pearson told the New York Post.

Pearson, a former air traffic controller and trainer, added the FAA’s focus on DEI has resulted in a “gaping hole” in recruitment and a shortage of 3,800 controllers.

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