Shelton Snow Implicated in FAA Exam Cheating Scandal Involving Minority Candidates Amid DEI Policy Debate

Shelton Snow, a prominent figure in the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE), has been implicated in a scandal involving the alleged sharing of air traffic controller exam answers with minority candidates. According to reports by the Daily Mail, Snow, who serves as an air traffic operations supervisor based out of New York, was recorded promising to provide test answers to minority candidates in 2014. He stated he was '99.99 percent sure' that the answers would help them pass the exam. The information was reportedly made available to African Americans, females, and other minority candidates, while excluding white candidates to 'minimize competition'. The leaked audio, which surfaced recently, has raised concerns about the integrity of the hiring process for air traffic controllers, a role critical to public safety. Matthew Douglas, a former NBCFAE member, confirmed to the Daily Mail that several individuals who allegedly received the answers from Snow are currently working as air traffic controllers. This revelation comes amidst ongoing debates about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The controversy has reignited discussions about the FAA's hiring practices, particularly in light of President Donald Trump's recent executive order aimed at eliminating DEI policies from federal agencies. The order was issued following a deadly midair collision at Reagan National Airport in January, which claimed 67 lives. Critics argue that such policies may have contributed to staffing shortages and compromised safety standards in the aviation sector. The FAA had replaced its traditional cognitive exam with a 'biographical quiz' during an Obama-era push to diversify its workforce, which had a 90 percent failure rate. Snow had also advised candidates to use HR buzz words in their applications. A US Navy veteran, Snow also runs a dog breeding business called Snowstorm Bullies. The FAA's previous use of the AT-SAT test was discontinued in favor of the biographical assessment, a move that was later reversed by Public Law 114-190.