r/technology • u/marketrent • Feb 01 '25

Transportation Trump admin emails air traffic controllers to quit their jobs en masse, after fatal midair collision

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admin-emails-air-traffic-controllers-quit-your-jobs/
56.9k Upvotes

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1.0k

u/Andreas1120 Feb 01 '25

So whats the idea? No ATC staff, no flights?

928

u/gweran Feb 01 '25

OPM has said air traffic controllers are not eligible for the resignation, FAA says that no one has given them guidance.

The reality is the email for resignations went out to almost all federal workers without regard to their position, they didn’t plan ahead or even consider what jobs would need to be filled, the plan was to simply scare as many federal workers as they can into resigning.

685

u/oldtrenzalore Feb 01 '25

It’s the Elon Musk rulebook of move fast and break things. In this case, it won’t be rockets breaking, but people’s lives. This country is terminally stupid.

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u/tanstaafl90 Feb 01 '25

Now, the call to operate the country like a business has been a mainstay of the conservative wishlist for decades. Ignoring it shows a fundamental flaw in understanding what government is and what it's designed to do for a moment, why would you pick these people to test your theory? Hell, there seems to be the belief that wealth is the sole indicator of business acumen, and not the business and product quality.

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u/leostotch Feb 01 '25

Hell, there seems to be the belief that wealth is the sole indicator of business acumen

Americans have equated wealth with virtue since Plymouth Rock.

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u/FarawayObserver18 Feb 01 '25

I wish we could blame the pilgrims and puritans, but at least they valued education. Maga, on the other hand…

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u/leostotch Feb 01 '25

Equating wealth with virtue or goodness is a puritan ideal, as I understand it.

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u/FarawayObserver18 Feb 01 '25

It was. I was just making the joke that, for all their questionable beliefs, the puritans had a few virtues that are clearing lacking in maga.

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u/leostotch Feb 01 '25

Great point

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u/BenjaminHamnett Feb 01 '25

I just learned the meaning of virtue evolved a lot. It used to be closer to wealth

1

u/leostotch Feb 01 '25

How about that. I had no idea.

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u/BenjaminHamnett Feb 02 '25

Likewise until yesterday. I thought it just meant moral or ethical. It almost does now. But originally it had more to do with being objective and sufficient

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u/somniopus Feb 01 '25

I'd love to read more about this

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u/Wrong-Target6104 Feb 01 '25

The same people who were behind Liz Truss becoming prime minister of UK for 47 days

1

u/Blueskyways Feb 01 '25

Decades?  It was already tried in the 20s and we ended up with the Great Depression and policies that made it way worse.  Hopefully there's an FDR around somewhere.  

1

u/mason_savoy71 Feb 01 '25

The government does operate like a business. It's a great business. Not working for you? That's because you aren't the intended customer.

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u/fractalife Feb 01 '25

Musk didn't even come up with that. It was Zuck, talking about Facebook.

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u/Shopworn_Soul Feb 01 '25

Eh, two sides of the same shitcoin

2

u/fractalife Feb 01 '25

Agreed. I just don't like giving him any credit.

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u/DuskShy Feb 01 '25

Two shit-sides of the same shit-coin. And what do you get when you shit-flip it? Shit-heads, or shit-tails.

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u/[deleted] Feb 01 '25

And Zuck didn't come up with it either. That principle was around well before Facebook.

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u/Dlh2079 Feb 01 '25

Zuck didn't come up with it either.

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u/--o Feb 02 '25

There's more than one way to break things and this particular one is very similar to the twitter takeover.

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u/guptroop Feb 01 '25

The word you’re looking for is “blitzkrieg.”

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u/Licbo101 Feb 01 '25

I get it! cause Elon’s a Nazi, Nice.

Actual comedy gold

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u/guptroop Feb 01 '25

It’s the literal meaning of the word:

blitzkrieg: military tactic calculated to create psychological shock and resultant disorganization in enemy forces through the employment of surprise, speed, and superiority in matériel or firepower.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/blitzkrieg

“Trump’s first-day executive order blitzkrieg provides some hints about what’s to come for the auto industry.” —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 22 Jan. 2025

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u/Licbo101 Feb 01 '25

I know… if you think for half a second it could also be a double entendre cause Elon Nazi saluted. I’m honestly not sure why I’m being downvoted 😂 dumb fuck Americans

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u/guptroop Feb 01 '25 edited Feb 02 '25

They probably think you’re being sarcastic. ;-). All good. I didn’t downvote you. Thanks for the compliment. I was going for the double entendre. :-)

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u/Successful-Winter237 Feb 01 '25

Elon is an imbecile and a supporter of nazis

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u/Shiriru00 Feb 01 '25

I wouldn't really blame the air controller if they took their eyes away from the screen for a bit next time Elon flies around in his private jet and the unfortunate happened...

1

u/WeirdSysAdmin Feb 01 '25

They will put some spin on it like it saves money in pensions or some shit.

1

u/Motor-District-3700 Feb 01 '25

That rule was created by the wanker known as Zuck, not the fuckwit known as Musk.

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u/redbirdrising Feb 01 '25

This why I scoff at “well Trump and Elon are businessmen. Isn’t it great businessmen are running the country?”

No, the country isn’t a business. The rules don’t apply.

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u/thatlad Feb 02 '25

Given Elon's track record I'd wager rockets will be breaking (up in the atmosphere)

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u/W2ttsy Feb 02 '25

Ironically it will also be rockets as FAA and ATC control the airspace he launches from so RIP falcon heavy launches if ATC doesn’t close down airspace for the launches