Warren Presses Musk for Answers on His Role in Resignation of FAA Administrator
Musk Repeatedly Attacked FAA Head after Agency Fined SpaceX
“[T]he fact that FAA has no Senate-confirmed Administrator in place to lead the response provides a concrete example of how your self-interest may not be consistent with the public interest.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Elon Musk, Administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), regarding his role in the resignation of the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Michael Whitaker, in the wake of the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C.
“This resignation—which you called for after the FAA fined your company for safety issues —has left this critical agency without leadership while facing significant challenges, including the tragic midair crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 individuals—including at least six from Massachusetts —on the approach to Washington Reagan National Airport,” wrote Senator Warren.
Despite having a term set to run through 2028, Mr. Whitaker resigned from the agency on January 20, 2025, in the aftermath of a series of public attacks by Musk including calls for, “[Mr. Whitaker] … to resign.”
“You got what you wanted after President Trump was elected,” wrote Senator Warren.
Immediately after inauguration day, the Trump Administration took aim at the FAA and at airline safety, announcing a federal hiring freeze that included air traffic controllers, and disbanding the Aviation Safety Advisory Committee.
“It is not clear what direct or indirect role you played in any of these decisions, but at a moment of crisis, with 67 dead, the FAA is understaffed and was without a Senate-confirmed leader,” continued the senator. “[T]he fact that FAA has no Senate-confirmed Administrator in place to lead the response provides a concrete example of how your self-interest may not be consistent with the public interest.”
Senator Warren pushed Elon Musk for answers regarding his role in decisions made during the Trump transition or after January 20 about the FAA and airline safety, his current role in the Administration, and the ethics rules governing his actions.
###
Previous Article