There was a mass firing in the early 1980s (~90%) which led to the development of a bathtub curve in ATC staffing. By the 2010s this had become a critical issue

There was a mass firing in the early 1980s (~90%) which led to the development of a bathtub curve in ATC staffing. By the 2010s this had become a critical issue but was met with a hiring freeze (not the first). Now we're seeing the outcome of those poor decisions paired with the slow hiring/training process to fill the roles.