Staff Reports
The Senate has agreed that Michael Whitaker is the right person to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. He was chosen by President Joe Biden. The group hasn't had a leader approved by the Senate since March 2022. Whitaker was easily approved by the Senate by a vote of 98 to 0. His name had already been approved by the Commerce Committee last week.
Biden pick to lead FAA confirmed after vacancy of more than 18 months https://t.co/23hmRTe7jm
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 25, 2023
As of right now, Whitaker is the chief operating officer of a Hyundai subsidiary that is working on an advanced air mobility vehicle, also called a "air taxi." He is also the new head of the FAA. Additionally, he has worked as a manager for Trans World Airlines and United, and he was the deputy administrator of the FAA during the Obama era.
While Democrats praise Whitaker's qualifications and dedication to safety, Republicans have raised questions about the qualifications of his predecessor. Phillip Washington, Biden's first choice, pulled his nomination after GOP members said he didn't have enough experience in flight safety. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, has now said he will back Whitaker after he agreed to put safety first and stay out of politics.
The confirmation of Whitaker comes at a very important time for the FAA, as the agency deals with worries about airline safety and the introduction of new aircraft technology. The office also has trouble hiring people, and its permission is about to run out in December.
It's good to see that President Biden has finally chosen someone with real flying experience to lead the FAA. The safety of the aviation business in the United States should always come first, and Whitaker is a good person for the job because he has a lot of experience in the field. It's too bad it took the president so long to listen to Republicans and other people who say the nominee should be better suited. Let's hope Whitaker can make things better and deal with the problems the FAA is having right now.
