EAA and other Aviation organizations have been well aware of the present and future pilot shortage for at least ten years. I am quite sure some of the blame, if we are blaming, can be place squarely on the Obama administration for their shrinking of the military budget as well as the military itself.
It will take a long time to reverse the damage he has done. Can President Trump do it in eight years? Maybe, but I doubt it. It will most likely take much longer.
I’m in the industry and we’re seeing the same shortage of A&P mechanics. All of the guys my age that were in during the Reagan years are getting close to retirement. As an aside, my son just graduated the Naval Academy and his first choice was Marine air, then Naval air. He got sub drafted so they must be hurting even more.