Transport safety board fought to retain employees after Trump's federal worker resignation offer

Following the worst U.S. air disaster in nearly two decades, the understaffed and underfunded National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is scrambling to prevent investigators from leaving. This comes after the Trump administration offered a plan for federal employees to resign and collect pay through September.

An internal NTSB memo notified employees on Friday that they would not be eligible for the plan. The NTSB, an independent, non-political agency that does not report to the executive branch, is responsible for investigating transportation accidents, providing assistance to those affected, and recommending safety measures.

Multiple sources confirmed to CNN that all 400 staff members received an email, dubbed "Crossroads," which was essentially a buyout offer from the federal government. Less than 23 hours after the email, dated Tuesday at 9:41 p.m. local time, was sent, a US Air commuter plane operated by PSA Airlines and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in a fiery crash, sending all 67 people aboard both aircraft into the frigid Potomac River with no survivors.

The disaster apparently sent the agency's leadership scrambling behind the scenes to find ways to shield employees from the Trump administration's plan. On Friday, the NTSB chief sent a message to any employees who agreed to the government's initial message, asking them to "immediately withdraw any letters of deferred resignation submitted to the Office of Personnel Management."

One source said the initial message shocked employees, including many highly specialized investigators nearing retirement. "It's not easy for us to find people," the source said. Another source told CNN they knew of some investigators who were seriously considering accepting the offer.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy sent an agency-wide email on Friday stating that the agency had "obtained a full waiver from the deferred resignation program." This means "the program is not applicable to NTSB employees." The email, seen by CNN, stated: "Given the nature of our safety work, our limited budget and our ongoing investigation into the deadliest mass casualty aviation accident since 9/11, we need every position in our agency filled so that we can successfully execute our critical mission."