Nov 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. government delay on funding a

grant program risks worsening a shortage of aircraft

mechanics at a time when the country's aging aviation system is

already strained by demand, lawmakers said on Monday.

Twenty-one Democratic House representatives, in a letter

seen by Reuters to Federal Aviation Administration Administrator

Bryan Bedford, questioned the legality of delaying grants

previously authorized by Congress. Thanksgiving, a holiday that

falls on Thursday, is one of the busiest U.S. travel periods.

The letter, signed by lawmakers including Representatives

Marilyn Strickland, Rick Larsen and Andre Carson, follows a

September Reuters report that attributed delays to government

efforts to remove references to diversity, equity and inclusion

from grant applications.

"These ongoing delays are stalling critical aviation

workforce development at a time when the industry can least

afford it," said the letter. "Any further delay or denial of

these critical grants would disregard the law and constitute a

dereliction of duty to ensure safety in our skies."

The FAA said in a statement it will respond to the lawmakers

directly.

GRANTS TRAIN PILOTS, TECHNICIANS, MECHANICS

Through the FAA workforce grant program, Congress has

approved tens of millions of dollars to train new pilots,

aircraft maintenance technicians and mechanics, as planemakers

Boeing ( BA ) and rival Airbus ramp up global

production.

The U.S. aviation industry faces an expected 10% shortfall

in certified mechanics required to meet the country's needs this

year, according to the Aviation Technician Education Council.

The U.S. aviation system has been contending with aging air

traffic infrastructure and thousands of delays and cancelled

flights due to a recent 43-day government shutdown that strained

an existing shortfall of controllers.

Recipients counting on grants to attract mostly male

aircraft mechanics said in September they would need to reapply

after the applications are rewritten.

The Trump administration has eliminated DEI-related

programs in the government and fired many people who worked on

those initiatives.

DEI programs promote opportunities for women, ethnic

minorities, LGBTQ+ people, and other traditionally

underrepresented groups.

Republican Trump and his allies say DEI unfairly

discriminates against other Americans, including white people

and men, and weakens the importance of merit in job hiring or

promotion.

While some technical programs target female mechanics, women

account for less than 3% of U.S. aircraft maintenance workers,

the ATEC pipeline report said.