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Notes -
It's helpful to try thinking about it from the air-traffic controlers' perspective. Last year, the ATC scandal was a purely academic dispute. There was still pending litigation, but nothing that would affect the typical already-hired air-traffic controller either way.
Right now by contrast, federal employees are on a wartime footing. Subreddits like /r/fednews are almost certainly unrepresentative of the median federal worker's opinion, but there is good reason to be on edge if one is on Uncle Sam's payroll. Everyone hired before January 20, 2025, including able-bodied white males, is a presumed DEI hire until proven otherwise. Trace's ATC scandal going viral is a direct threat to their jobs. It puts a bullseye on the FAA. Is anyone surprised that the reaction is different?
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