White House Fires NTSB Member Todd Inman Who Denies Misconduct Allegations/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The administration of Donald Trump says it fired Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, over alleged misconduct. Inman strongly denies the accusations and says he may pursue legal action to defend his reputation. The dismissal comes amid broader efforts by the administration to reshape leadership at independent federal agencies.
NTSB Board Member Firing Quick Looks
- The White House says Todd Inman was removed for misconduct.
- Allegations include drinking on the job, harassment of staff, and misuse of government resources.
- Inman denies all allegations and calls the firing a political attack.
- The National Transportation Safety Board investigates major transportation accidents.
- Inman’s term was scheduled to run through 2027.
- The Senate recently confirmed John DeLeeuw to join the board.
- The NTSB currently has three active members following recent departures.
- Inman helped oversee the investigation into a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C..
- The Trump administration has also removed members from other independent agencies.
- The five-member board is meant to maintain a 3–2 political balance between parties.
Deep Look
White House Removes NTSB Member Todd Inman
The administration of Donald Trump has dismissed Todd Inman from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), citing allegations of workplace misconduct.
However, Inman strongly disputes the accusations and says he intends to defend his reputation through legal action.
The dispute marks the latest clash between the Trump administration and officials serving on independent federal regulatory boards.
White House Cites Misconduct Allegations
According to a statement from White House spokesman Kush Desai, the administration removed Inman after receiving troubling reports about his behavior.
Officials claim the allegations include:
- Inappropriate alcohol use during work hours
- Harassment of staff members
- Misuse of government resources
- Missing at least half of scheduled NTSB meetings
The White House said the decision was necessary to maintain safety and accountability within the federal agency.
“The Trump administration remains committed to maintaining safety and security for Americans in the air and on the ground,” Desai said.
Inman Denies Allegations
Inman revealed publicly over the weekend that he had been removed from the board on Friday without any explanation.
His appointment to the NTSB had been scheduled to last until 2027, making the dismissal unexpected.
Initially, Inman said he did not plan to challenge the decision in court.
But after hearing the allegations outlined by the White House, he said he now plans to consider legal action.
“I categorically deny the allegations made in the White House statement,” Inman said Monday.
He described the dismissal as a “political hit job.”
Background and Appointment
Inman is a Republican who joined the NTSB in March 2024 during the administration of Joe Biden.
The NTSB is an independent federal agency responsible for investigating major transportation accidents, including aviation crashes, train derailments, highway disasters, and pipeline incidents.
The board also issues safety recommendations designed to prevent future tragedies.
Recent Investigations Led by Inman
During his time at the agency, Inman played a prominent role in several major accident investigations.
He served as the lead board member on scene following the deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people when a commercial aircraft collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter operated by the U.S. Army.
Inman also oversaw the early stages of the investigation into the crash of a UPS cargo plane in Kentucky in November that killed 15 people.
The NTSB is currently investigating more than 1,000 transportation incidents nationwide.
Changes to Board Membership
Following Inman’s removal and the earlier dismissal of former vice chair Alvin Brown, the NTSB temporarily dropped to just three active members.
However, the U.S. Senate recently confirmed John DeLeeuw, an executive from American Airlines, to join the board.
Once DeLeeuw takes office, the five-member board will have four active members, evenly split between political parties.
By tradition, the NTSB board is structured to include three members from the president’s party and two from the opposing party.
With the current balance at 2–2, Trump will have the opportunity to appoint another Republican member.
Broader Pattern of Agency Changes
Historically, members of independent federal boards were rarely removed before their terms ended.
But the Trump administration has increasingly replaced officials across several regulatory bodies.
The White House has previously dismissed members from:
- The Federal Reserve Board
- The Surface Transportation Board
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Supporters of the changes say presidents should have authority to shape agency leadership.
Critics argue the moves could undermine the independence of regulatory institutions.
Legal Challenges Emerging
Some of the officials removed from independent agencies have already challenged their dismissals in court.
Former NTSB vice chair Alvin Brown and former Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus have both filed lawsuits contesting their removals.
The legal advocacy organization Democracy Forward has filed discrimination complaints on their behalf.
Whether Inman will pursue a similar legal challenge remains uncertain, but he said he intends to fight the allegations publicly.
For now, the dispute has added another layer of controversy to the administration’s ongoing effort to reshape federal oversight agencies.
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