Biden pick to lead FAA confirmed after vacancy of more than 18 months

Michael Whitaker, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, was confirmed by the full Senate on Tuesday.

The agency has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since March 2022.

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The Senate voted 98 to 0 to confirm Whitaker after his nomination sailed out of the Commerce Committee last week.

The new leader of the FAA is currently the chief operating officer of a Hyundai affiliate that’s designing an advanced air mobility vehicle, sometimes called an “air taxi.” Whitaker also had a career as an airline executive at Trans World Airlines and United. He also served as deputy administration at the FAA during the Obama administration.

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“Mr. Whitaker is highly qualified with more than 30 years of aviation experience in both the public and private sectors,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chairwoman of the Commerce Committee, after the panel approved him. “I appreciate Mr. Whitaker’s commitment to independent leadership, recruiting new talent, and building a strong safety culture at the FAA.”

Whitaker’s nomination comes after Biden’s first choice for the job, Phillip Washington, had to withdraw his nomination. Republicans pressed down on his qualifications, or lack thereof, to head the aviation agency. The Denver International Airport CEO was nominated by Biden in July 2022 and quickly drew GOP criticism over his slim credentials in aviation safety and potential legal entanglements.

Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), the top Republican on the panel, vowed to support Whitaker after he promised to focus on safety and “stay out of politics.”

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“His extensive aviation experience makes him well suited to lead our nation’s largest transportation safety agency,” Cruz said previously. “It is unfortunate that the president took so long to heed my advice and the advice of many on this committee to nominate someone with actual aviation experience and aviation safety experience.”

Whitaker’s confirmation comes as the FAA grapples with airline safety concerns after many flights have nearly collided on runways, with the agency struggling to staff air traffic control facilities and find ways to integrate aircraft such as electric air taxis, drones, and supersonic jets into the aviation system. The agency’s five-year authorization is set to expire in December.