A team from Elon Musk’s SpaceX is visiting the Air Traffic Control Command Center in Virginia on Monday to assist in modernizing the system following last month’s deadly air disaster in Washington, DC, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced. The visit comes as CNN reports that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has fired hundreds of probationary employees responsible for maintaining critical air traffic control infrastructure.

Mass Layoffs Amid Government Restructuring

The exact number of workers losing their jobs remains unclear, but the union representing them states the figure is in the “hundreds.” The Trump administration is currently working to eliminate thousands of federal employees while collaborating with Congressional Republicans on a large-scale tax-cutting bill that primarily benefits corporations and the wealthy.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is playing a central role in these terminations through his position at the Department of Government Efficiency. Critics argue that Musk’s involvement, given his status as a major government contractor through SpaceX, creates a significant conflict of interest—one that both he and President Donald Trump have repeatedly downplayed.

FAA Faces Scrutiny After Fatal Air Disaster

Duffy stated in a post on X that the SpaceX team’s visit aims to “get a firsthand look at the current system, learn what air traffic controllers like and dislike about their tools, and envision a new, better, modern, and safer system.” Previously, Duffy had indicated that Musk’s team would be “plugging into” the FAA to help upgrade aviation infrastructure.

Criticism has emerged over granting Musk’s team access to another crucial federal agency. Addressing concerns, Duffy claimed that the FAA regularly provides tours of the command center to media and companies.

The FAA is under intense scrutiny just three weeks after a midair collision over the Potomac River killed 67 people. The incident exposed severe shortages of air traffic controllers and congestion issues at major airports. Hundreds of complaints from FAA employees cite hazardous working conditions, understaffing, and deteriorating infrastructure. The agency also lacked a permanent administrator at the time—partly due to Musk’s role in ousting the previous head after the FAA fined SpaceX for failing to submit safety data.

Union Warns of Increased Risks from Layoffs

Duffy’s statement does not acknowledge Musk’s involvement in leadership changes at the FAA or the recent wave of layoffs. CNN reports that the terminated employees were likely targeted due to their probationary status, which prevents them from appealing their dismissals.

“This draconian action will increase the workload and place new responsibilities on a workforce that is already stretched thin,” said David Spero, National President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO. “This decision did not consider the staffing needs of the FAA, which is already challenged by understaffing.”