Senate confirms Trump’s pick for FAA administrator despite protests

Senators formally approved Bryan Bedford as head of the Federal Aviation Administration with a 53-43 vote Wednesday afternoon. Bedford spent about 25 years serving as CEO of Republic Airways before retiring last week. Many view his nomination with scrutiny after his airline petitioned the FAA to lower standards for commercial airline transport pilots in 2022. Current protocol requires pilots to complete at least 1,500 hours of flight experience before qualifying to pilot commercial airline flights. Republic Airways asked the FAA to exempt its air transport first officers from the rule and also called for the requirement to be lowered to 750 hours.

While appearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last month, Bedford never answered lawmakers on whether he planned to enact his company’s previously proposed change. When pressed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D- Ill., Bedford said he believed that as pilot training has changed with time, so has safety protocol. However, Bedford also repeatedly reiterated his commitment to prioritizing flight and air traffic safety. His nomination barely passed the commerce committee with a 15-13 partisan vote.

What are people saying? Commerce Committee chairwoman, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., described Bedford as wrong for FAA leadership. Bedford’s apparent willingness to lower safety training protocol is the exact opposite of what the FAA needs now, she said in a Wednesday statement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., echoed Cantwell’s sentiments in a Wednesday statement describing Bedford as a deeply flawed nominee. He’s failed to show his commitment to putting passenger safety over profits, while having a callous disregard for safety protocols, Schumer wrote.

Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., also described Bedford’s nomination as a slap in the face to those who care about airline safety. His confirmation is a clear message that leaders are willing to put industry interests over proven safety standards, he wrote Wednesday. The Air Line Pilots Association released a statement congratulating Bedford on the confirmation, but voiced concern over the ex-CEO possibly trying to lower safety standards. The association looks forward to working with Bedford and supporting his plan to modernize antiquated air traffic systems, according to the statement.

Nicholas Calio, president of the trade group Airlines for America, described Bedford as a proven leader with a staunch commitment to safety in a Wednesday statement. A4A looks forward to working with Bedford to ensure that America remains the gold standard of air travel safety, according to the statement.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also praised Bedford’s confirmation in a Wednesday statement. The DOT is looking forward to working with Bedford to bring President Donald Trump’s 21st century vision for air traffic control to life, Duffy said. A number of aviation associations and businesses also shared statements praising Bedford’s appointment, including the National Business Aviation Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, General Electric Aerospace, and Joby Aviation.

Dig deeper: Listen to Lindsay Mast’s report on The World and Everything in It for more about the FAA’s issues with outdated technology and bureaucratic delays.