Government Neglect of Basic Functions Creates Cascading Safety Crises
Source: Juliette Kayyem. "When Warning Lights Flash Red - The Atlantic." March 23, 2026. www.theatlantic.com
The Gist
The author argues that recent aviation disasters and airport security problems aren't random accidents—they're the predictable result of the Trump administration cutting funding and staff from safety agencies while focusing on fake threats instead of real ones. She's saying we're seeing warning signs of bigger system failures to come.
Conclusion
The Trump administration's approach to governance—neglecting basic governmental functions while manufacturing fake threats—is creating real public safety crises that Americans can no longer take for granted
Premises
- Near-miss aviation incidents have increased in frequency, with two close calls in the New York area this month alone before the LaGuardia crash
- The Air Canada crash at LaGuardia was not an isolated incident but the inevitable result of long-standing safety concerns and funding cuts
- DOGE cuts eliminated hundreds of FAA workers, compromising air-traffic safety and leaving potentially only one controller on duty during the crash
- TSA workers are quitting or not showing up because they haven't been paid for weeks due to funding disputes over ICE's aggressive conduct
- The administration has devoted resources to manufacturing fake threats while neglecting real threats like the erosion of safety systems
- Near misses are warning signs of system failure, not evidence that systems are working (the 'near-miss fallacy')
Assumptions
- Complex safety systems provide warning signs before catastrophic failure
- Adequate staffing and funding are essential for maintaining aviation safety
- Government has a fundamental responsibility to ensure public safety
- Political priorities that focus on manufactured threats divert resources from real safety needs