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Georgia Today: Kemp on Trump's workforce cuts; Delta keeps DEI; Protests against Elon Musk in ATL
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On the Monday, Feb. 17 edition of Georgia Today: Gov. Kemp says the federal government needs some right-sizing. The NAACP praises Delta for keeping its DEI commitments; and demonstrators protest what they call President Trump's overreach.
Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Monday, Feb. 17. I'm Peter Biello. This podcast has the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. Send feedback or story tips to Georgia Today at GPB.org. On today's episode, Gov. Kemp says the federal government needs some "right-sizing." The NAACP praises Delta for keeping its DEI commitments. And demonstrators protest what they call President Trump's overreach.
Jay Bassett: And to watch all of a sudden now, basically those that they committed to pay say "we're not going to pay" for what the government committed to doing — it's just a travesty.
Peter Biello: These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.
Story 1:
Peter Biello: Hundreds gathered outside City Hall in Athens to protest billionaire Elon Musk's role in President Donald Trump's administration and massive cuts to federal funding. GPB's Chase McGee has more.
Chase McGee: The protesters chanted, played bagpipes and held up signs calling for Musk to be removed from the federal government. The rally was organized with just a few days notice by Indivisible Georgia Ten, a local chapter of the nationwide Indivisible Action Committee. Iva King, one of the co-leaders of the committee, says she was shocked by the turnout.
Iva King: I'm just flabbergasted that we had this many people out here on such short notice. And I think this is the beginning of what could be a movement — is a movement — across the country that's only going to grow.
Chase McGee: Several protesters said this was the first time they'd attended a demonstration and that they were motivated by personal issues like recent loss of a federally funded job or concerns over access to health care. For GPB News, I'm Chase McGee in Athens.
Story 2:
Peter Biello: Meanwhile, an even larger crowd protested at the state capitol in Atlanta for the same cause. Jay Bassett is an employee of the Environmental Protection Agency who was placed on leave because of the divestment from diversity, equity and inclusion programs. He came to the demonstration to protest changes across federal agencies and what he calls an overreach of power from Trump.
Jay Bassett: And to watch all of a sudden now, basically those that they committed to pay say "we're not going to pay" for what the government committed to doing; it's just a travesty.
Peter Biello: The protest was part of a grassroots movement called 50501 that encourages protests in all 50 state capitols.
Story 3:
Peter Biello: Gov. Brian Kemp says the federal government could, quote, stand a little "right-sizing." Speaking with Politico at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Kemp responded to a question about the Trump administration's recent decision to lay off about 10% of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention workforce. Other federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and USAID, are experiencing similar cuts. Kemp says Georgia has already done that at the state level.
Brian Kemp: Because we got more efficient through technology, we're paying our people more. So instead of hiring more people at the same pay rate, we're paying people more. Keeping the same numbers, but doing more work as we're using technology, so why can't the federal government do that?
Peter Biello: Kemp says when it comes to Trump's policies on tariffs, it's in nobody's interest to drive up costs but it's important not to overreact and to wait and see how things play out.
Story 4:
Peter Biello: As we've mentioned, the CDC has taken a significant hit to its workforce. GPB's Sofi Gratas says more about the so-called "disease detectives" affected by a round of layoffs over the past three days.
Sofi Gratas: The Epidemic Intelligence Service, or EIS, is a two-year training program under the CDC. Patrick Sullivan of Emory University describes it as critical to the pipeline of public health workers. Sullivan is an EIS graduate and now teaches its officers.
Patrick Sullivan: We've been getting the best and the brightest in this program. And so I think the long-term ripples of sending home this particular group of highly trained doctors touch many areas.
Sofi Gratas: Like the boots on the ground response to disease outbreaks across the country. Until this weekend, the terminated class had been monitoring ongoing outbreaks like flu, tuberculosis, measles and avian influenza all present in Georgia. Over 1,000 CDC employees have been laid off since Friday. The Trump administration says it's part of a plan to save money.
Jodi Guest: Prevention is always cheaper than treatment.
Sofi Gratas: Epidemiologist Jodi Guest, who also teaches EIS officers, denies long-term savings.
Jodi Guest: Our country is less safe today than it was on Friday when we had this class of EIS officers and 10% of the CDC still in the workforce.
Sofi Gratas: Because more disease outbreaks will happen, she says. We just might not be ready for it. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas.
Story 5:
Peter Biello: The NAACP is praising Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines for standing by its DEI policies as they come under attack by the Trump administration. The NAACP is asking Black Americans to steer their buying power toward companies that haven't pulled away from diversity, equity and inclusion programs. In its Spending guide released Saturday, the organization praised Delta, as well as Costco, Apple and Ben & Jerry's for standing by previous DEI commitments. The organization also said it's speaking with executives at companies that have reversed their DEI policies, including Meta, McDonald's and Walmart. DEI policies are a catch-all term for programs meant to promote fair treatment, impartial hiring and cooperation between people from different backgrounds. Such policies vary widely, but often include anti-discrimination mandates and training meant to inform people about how to promote inclusive values. Some institutions hire staff who focus on implementing DEI policies. Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to end DEI programs. NAACP President Derrick Johnson told the AP, quote, "In a global economy, those who reject the multicultural nature of consumerism and business will be left in the past they are living in."
Story 6:
Peter Biello: Venezuelan political leader Marina Corina Machado has been awarded Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage. The prestigious award honors individuals who take a stand for justice despite great personal risk. Machado, a lifelong advocate for democracy and human rights in Venezuela, was barred from running for office and remains under threat from the Maduro government. Machado is a hardliner and former lawmaker who stayed in Venezuela and fought against Maduro even after many of her allies went into exile. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, accepted the award on her behalf at a ceremony Friday.
Ana Corina Sosa Mochado: My mother has shown us the way. And it takes courage to fight for your convictions and to stand for what is right. She has shown us the way. Not the easy one, but the honorable one.
Peter Biello: The prize includes a $100,000 stipend and recognizes Machado's fight for free and fair elections.
Story 7:
Peter Biello: Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered flags to be flown at half staff today in honor of Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, who died in the collision last month between the American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter. O'Hara was in the Army helicopter and is from Lilburn, northeast of Atlanta. So far, the cause of the collision hasn't been released, but the crash has raised concerns about staffing at the FAA.
But as the FAA recruits air traffic controllers, one Georgia university trains them. Middle Georgia State University's School of Aviation in Eastman is one of only 31 FAA-approved college training programs in the country. Air traffic control instructor Angela Taylor recently spoke with GPB's Orlando Montoya about the school's program, how it came to be, its future, and what she likes about working in air traffic.
Angela Taylor: The FAA started the Air Traffic Control Collegiate Training Initiative program back in early 2005, maybe. And then at one point, they kind of canceled the CTI program. So when they canceled the CTI program, our enrollment went down for air traffic. And then maybe a few years back, they actually restarted the CTI program. So our our enrollment has started to go back up. So right now, we're about 40 to 45 students. I believe we have 13 to 14 maybe graduating here in the spring, May.
Orlando Montoya: Do they go directly from graduating your programming to air traffic controlling? I suppose there's probably tests involved and things of that nature. Maybe a certificate or a license?
Angela Taylor: Right. So what happens with the program is once they have completed the program, they can apply to the FAA under the AT CTI program, which is the air traffic control CTI program. And if they are selected, they will go through the psychological testing, they'll go through drug testing and all of those types of testings. And then they will end up going to the FAA Academy, which is in Oklahoma City. They'll go there the train there and then the FAA will place them at facilities where they are — need manning. Now, they I guess a year and a half ago, they created the enhanced CTI program, which allows the student now to, once they complete the enhanced DTI program, they can, when they are finished, they can apply. And if they're picked up, they go directly to their facility. The difference between the two is the enhanced is a lot more. We're teaching a lot more information. There are a lot more guidelines that we have to adhere to in order to be a part of the enhanced program. Right now we are offering the CTI program. We are part of the enhanced CTI. So we are at the very end stages of meeting those requirements. We have one more step. And what were they? They will come here and do an onsite evaluation of the school to make sure that we have the right instructors, we have the right lesson plans, we have the right equipment.
Orlando Montoya: Let's talk a little bit about the training itself and what you guys teach. It's very rigorous, isn't it?
Angela Taylor: It is very, very important that they understand the magnitude of a mistake that they make. So the training here is very — and we do put them in a stressful environment to make it difficult for them to function. To teach them how to, even though you're stressed out, even though you may be overwhelmed, you still have a job that you have to complete and you have to complete it accurately every single time. So, you know, there might be a little bit of raising the voice just to put them in a situation where they feel stressed or they feel overwhelmed and watch how they react to that and whether or not they can continue to perform their their job while being stressed out or overwhelmed, you know, because you're not dealing with, you know, a computer, you're dealing with real people.
Orlando Montoya: What do you like about the job?
Angela Taylor: It's challenging. It's a different thing every day you come to work; you're not going to see the same scenario that you saw yesterday. It is — it is a challenge. And I don't want to say it's a rush, but it is — it's very exciting. And when you, you know, whenever you have traffic and you and you work out the traffic situation and — and everybody lands safely, you're like, "OK, I did my job today." There, in air traffic, there is no good job. It's like you did your job today because no one died, you know? So it is a very rewarding job. Just because it is so challenging and the fact that like, wow, I just did that, you know, and I wouldn't want to do any other job.
Orlando Montoya: All right. Well, I appreciate your time in talking about this.
Angela Taylor: Okay. Thank you so much.
Peter Biello: That was air traffic control instructor Angela Taylor speaking with GPB's Orlando Montoya.
Story 8:
Peter Biello: A federal jury in Columbus has ordered Ford to pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages in a lawsuit over a fatal truck rollover. The case stemmed from the 2022 deaths of Herman and Debra Mills after their Ford F-250 Super Duty truck overturned and its roof collapsed in Decatur County. Attorneys for the family argued Ford ignored safety concerns about weak roofs in its 1999 through 2016 Super Duty models. The verdict follows a more than $30 million compensatory award in the case. Ford has not yet commented on the ruling.
Story 9:
Peter Biello: A data center has been proposed for an unincorporated part of Bartow County, northwest of Atlanta. In forms filed with the Department of Community Affairs, the project, titled Project Springbank, would consist of six buildings totaling more than 2.2 million square feet. Developer Atlas Development says the project will use closed loop technology to reduce water and sewer demand. It's expected to be completed in 2031.
Story 10:
Peter Biello: In sports, Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. says he has almost completely recovered from his ACL injury. The 2023 National League MVP estimated his knee at 90% to 95%. Acuna injured his left knee last May and had surgery in June. This is the second time he's come back from ACL surgery. He tore the right one in 2021. Spring training games for the Braves begin on Saturday.
Peter Biello: And that is a wrap on this edition of Georgia Today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, check GPB.org/news. Coming up later this week. I hope you'll join me for an event I'm really excited about. Historian David Levering Lewis won the Pulitzer Prize for his biographies of W.E.B. Dubois. And now he is turning his powers of historical excavation on his own family. His new book, The Stained Glass Window, explores his Georgia ancestors' intersection with slavery, Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. Join me for a conversation with David Levering Lewis at the Atlanta History Center on Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m. More information is available at AtlantaHistoryCenter.com. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening to Georgia Today. We'll see you tomorrow.
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For more on these stories and more, go to GPB.org/news
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