Staff Reports
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy firmly rejected claims that recent government efficiency efforts reduced staffing for the Hudson River helicopter crash investigation. She emphasized the NTSB has 17 personnel on-site, including 10 investigators, and clarified the agency avoided layoffs by securing hiring exemptions from the Trump administration’s workforce policies.
Homendy dismissed accusations that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) impacted crash response capabilities. She noted the NTSB retained 427 employees – down only from typical retirements – and highlighted proactive efforts to protect critical investigative roles. The agency continues pushing for expanded funding to address ongoing staffing shortages in safety-critical fields like air traffic control.
The fiery exchange highlighted conservative concerns about federal bloat versus the need for robust transportation oversight. Homendy’s defense of her agency’s staffing contrasts with broader GOP-led efforts to streamline bureaucracy, underscoring tensions between fiscal responsibility and public safety priorities. Critics argue the NTSB’s resistance to modernization reflects outdated big-government thinking, while supporters say fully funded investigations prevent future tragedies.
