Trump's FAA nominee faces questions from senators amid safety concerns

President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to face questions about the deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers and pilot training requirements.

President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to face questions about the deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers and pilot training requirements.

Today lawmakers on Capitol Hill are interviewing Brian Bedford to potentially lead the Federal Aviation Administration at *** pivotal time for the future of flying. He'll face tough questions from the Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee as those lawmakers call for an independent review of safety practices following January's deadly midair collision outside of Washington DC and other near misses. The FAA is also working to address *** long. Standing shortage of air traffic controllers and overhaul aging infrastructure which have recently contributed to disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport. In *** statement ahead of the confirmation hearing, Committee chairman Ted Cruz said, quote, President Trump's FAA administrator will play *** key role in bringing America's aviation system into the 21st century, adding that he looks forward to evaluating Bedford. The president's nominee does have the support of the industry group Airlines for. Erica, which said in *** statement, quote, Mr. Bedford has decades of experience in aviation operations, and he leads with *** commitment to safety above all else. But the families of those killed in *** 2009 plane crash disagree, and they have raised serious concerns about Bedford's nomination. Specifically, they are seeking assurances that he will not seek to weaken pilot training requirements, something he's likely to be asked about today. Reporting in Washington, I'm Jackie DeFusco.

Updated: 6:24 AM CDT Jun 11, 2025

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Trump's FAA nominee faces questions from senators amid safety concerns

Updated: 6:24 AM CDT Jun 11, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, airline executive Bryan Bedford, will face tough questions from senators Wednesday at a pivotal time for the future of air travel. Bedford’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee comes in the wake of January’s deadly midair collision outside of Washington, D.C. Earlier this week, lawmakers on the committee called for an independent review of safety practices following that crash and other near misses. The FAA is also working to address a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers while overhauling aging infrastructure. The Trump administration has blamed outdated systems for recent outages at Newark Liberty International Airport.“For too long, the FAA has relied on technology from the 1960s and 1970s that is unable to reliably handle the anticipated growth in airspace use,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the committee charged with questioning Bedford, in a statement ahead of the hearing. “The next FAA administrator will need to provide strong and steady leadership to complete modernization projects in a timely manner but also to identify and implement what the future of the FAA and America’s airspace should be while accommodating new and current users,” Cruz continued. Bedford already has the support of major airlines. “Mr. Bedford has decades of experience in aviation operations, and he leads with a commitment to safety above all else,” said the industry group Airlines for America in a statement. However, families of those killed in a 2009 plane crash have expressed serious concerns about Bedford's nomination, seeking assurances that he will not attempt to weaken pilot training requirements.Trump’s nominee will also likely face questions about staff reductions at the FAA under the administration’s sweeping push to downsize the federal government.

WASHINGTON —

Bedford’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee comes in the wake of January’s deadly midair collision outside of Washington, D.C. Earlier this week, lawmakers on the committee called for an independent review of safety practices following that crash and other near misses.

The FAA is also working to address a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers while overhauling aging infrastructure. The Trump administration has blamed outdated systems for recent outages at Newark Liberty International Airport.

“For too long, the FAA has relied on technology from the 1960s and 1970s that is unable to reliably handle the anticipated growth in airspace use,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the committee charged with questioning Bedford, in a statement ahead of the hearing.

“The next FAA administrator will need to provide strong and steady leadership to complete modernization projects in a timely manner but also to identify and implement what the future of the FAA and America’s airspace should be while accommodating new and current users,” Cruz continued.

Bedford already has the support of major airlines.

“Mr. Bedford has decades of experience in aviation operations, and he leads with a commitment to safety above all else,” said the industry group Airlines for America in a statement.

However, families of those killed in a 2009 plane crash have expressed serious concerns about Bedford's nomination, seeking assurances that he will not attempt to weaken pilot training requirements.

Trump’s nominee will also likely face questions about staff reductions at the FAA under the administration’s sweeping push to downsize the federal government.

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