U.S. Senate Confirms Whitaker As New FAA Administrator

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Michael Whitaker as the next head of the FAA after the agency had an 18-month gap without a permanent administrator.

Whitaker will serve a five-year term that ends in 2028 and become the FAA’s first permanent administrator—and 19th overall—since Steve Dickson resigned in March 2022. Since then, several acting administrators have filled in, with current Acting Administrator Polly Trottenberg filling the role since June 2023.

Whitaker's aviation experience spans roughly three decades, including a stint as deputy administrator at the agency. 

During recent Congressional confirmation hearings, Whitaker acknowledged assessing the FAA’s workforce “will be one of the first goals that I have within the agency."

"I would look forward to finding ways that we can increase ways to bring people into the agency," Whitaker said. "We recruit in the same places that private industry does. We’ve got to figure out a way to be competitive to bring the right talent into the agency.”

Whitaker’s confirmation drew praise from numerous industry stakeholders. Airlines For America congratulated him on his bipartisan confirmation, adding, “We look forward to working collaboratively with the administrator to address the critical issues facing our National Airspace System, including air traffic control staffing shortages and NextGen modernization implementation.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commended the U.S. Senate “for quickly confirming Mike Whitaker to lead the FAA." 

"With his three decades of aviation experience, including his time as FAA’s deputy administrator, Mike has earned broad bipartisan support because it’s clear he has the expertise and disposition to successfully lead the agency from day one,” Buttigieg said.

Whitaker is “well-versed on the critical need to modernize the key systems our national aviation system rely on," Buttigieg added. "As with all infrastructure, inadequate investments in modernization—from buildings to software—can leave the entire system more vulnerable to failures, so we must work closely with Congress to ensure the FAA remains the gold standard of safety and efficiency.”