Michael Whitaker, a former United Airlines executive and FAA second in command, has faced almost no opposition since being nominated to run the agency.
Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s pick to fill the long-vacant top job at the Federal Aviation Administration, is expected to easily advance Wednesday through the Senate Commerce Committee.“I’m looking forward to a strong bipartisan vote tomorrow in support of Mr. Whitaker’s confirmation,” the committee’s chairwoman, Sen. Maria Cantwell , said Tuesday in a statement.
The agency is grappling with airline safety concerns after near misses at airports, has struggled to fully staff air traffic control facilities and is contending with how to incorporate drones and flying taxis into the nation’s busy skies. In the face of those challenges, lawmakers say they are ready to fill the vacancy at the FAA, which has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since March 2022.
Whitaker’s reception in the narrowly divided committee stands in stark contrast to Biden’s first choice for the job, Phillip Washingtonwho ultimately withdrew in the face of questions about his aviation experience. Biden’s choice to run the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationCommittee’s leading Republican, said he is frustrated by the Biden administration’s delay in naming a “qualified nominee.
Whitaker also was an executive at United Airlines. His time in management raised questions among aviation labor leaders, but they say the White House smoothed over any worries they had before naming Whitaker in September. Industry groups were quick to support him. While advancing Whitaker’s nomination would be a step toward greater stability at the FAA, the committee is also struggling to reach a deal on. The current law was extended until the end of the year as part of the deal to avoid a government shutdown, but the committee has been deadlocked over the role of
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