FAA diversity program looking to hire those with 'severe intellectual' or 'psychiatric' disabilities

The Federal Aviation Administration employs a "critical" diversity hiring program that includes a search to hire those who are described as having "severe" disabilities, including psychiatric, intellectual, and more.

"Because diversity is so critical, FAA actively supports and engages in a variety of associations, programs, coalitions and initiatives to support and accommodate employees from diverse communities and backgrounds," the FAA said on its website. The federal organization also stated that its workforce needs to proportionately represent the ethnicities of the United States:

"The mission of the FAA involves securing the skies of a diverse nation. It only makes sense that the workforce responsible for that mission reflects the nation that it serves."

Through its special program, the FAA has the stated goal of facilitating "career development, formal and informal mentoring, diversity, inclusion and social interaction."

This included a swath of gender- and race-specific programs, as well as "targeted disabilities."

"Individuals with targeted or 'severe' disabilities are the most under-represented segment of the Federal workforce," the program stated.

Among disabilities such as dwarfism, vision problems, and hearing loss, the FAA also listed "complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability," and those with a "psychiatric disability" as being targeted for hiring.

"Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety? That is actually happening," Elon Musk wrote on X.

"The FAA employs tens of thousands of people for a wide range of positions, from administrative roles to oversight and execution of critical safety functions," the FAA told Fox News Digital. "Like many large employers, the agency proactively seeks qualified candidates from as many sources as possible, all of whom must meet rigorous qualifications that of course will vary by position," the statement continued.

The FAA has been under the spotlight due to recent incidents that included an Alaska Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing after a section of the aircraft blew out mid-flight.

During the flight, a section of the plane's fuselage fell off, which included the panel's window. Fortunately, no passengers were sitting in the seats where the window blew out. However, cell phones were sucked out of the gaping hole and a child's shirt was ripped off from the suction.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the situation with the Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft.

The government entity is overseen by the Department of Transportation under Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The FAA employs approximately 45,000 people, according to Fox News.

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