Senate Confirms Bryan Bedford As FAA Chief Amid Air Safety Debates / Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bryan Bedford was confirmed as FAA chief amid rising air safety concerns. Democrats and victims’ families fear he may ease pilot training standards. Industry groups praise him as a steady, experienced leader for aviation.
Quick Look: FAA Leadership Change
- New FAA Chief: Bryan Bedford, former Republic Airways CEO
- Key Debate: 1,500-hour pilot training rule under scrutiny
- Industry Reaction: Airlines back Bedford, safety advocates remain wary
Senate Confirms Bryan Bedford as New FAA Chief Amid Air Safety Concerns
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Bryan Bedford as the next head of the Federal Aviation Administration, placing the longtime airline executive in charge of the nation’s top aviation regulator during a turbulent period marked by mounting concerns over flight safety.
Bedford, President Donald Trump’s nominee and CEO of regional carrier Republic Airways since 1999, was confirmed in a 53-43 vote that largely split along party lines. Republican lawmakers and aviation industry leaders praised Bedford’s extensive business background, touting him as a steady leader who can modernize the FAA and steer it through a wave of recent incidents and public scrutiny.
“Bryan Bedford is a steady leader with the executive experience needed at this moment,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. “He has decades of proven leadership.”
Yet Bedford’s confirmation drew significant opposition from Democrats and safety advocates who fear he may weaken critical pilot training standards. Bedford declined, during his confirmation hearings, to fully commit to preserving the rule requiring commercial pilots to complete at least 1,500 hours of flight time before flying passengers—a regulation instituted after the tragic 2009 Colgan Air crash in New York that claimed 50 lives.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the committee’s top Democrat, accused Bedford of wanting to “roll back safety reforms and unravel the regulatory framework that made the United States the gold standard in aviation safety.”
The families of the victims of the Colgan crash remain staunch defenders of the 1,500-hour rule. Several joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at a Capitol press conference to voice concern over Bedford’s nomination.
Marilyn Kausner, whose daughter died in the Colgan Air crash, said her family and others sought a meeting with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to share their alarm about Bedford’s stance. “My husband was very discouraged by what he heard at the hearing,” she said.
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the retired pilot known for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, also blasted the nomination, writing on social media that Bedford’s appointment risked undoing “my life’s work” to enhance airline safety.
Republican Sen. Todd Young acknowledged the emotionally charged nature of the pilot training debate but insisted Bedford’s decisions would be guided by data and best practices. “His approach to safety is analytical,” Young said. “He’ll do what leads to the best safety outcomes for passengers.”
Bedford has won backing from key industry groups. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association welcomed his focus on modernizing the FAA’s aging technology systems, while Airlines for America, a trade group representing major airlines, called him a “superb choice.” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed “total confidence” in Bedford’s ability to lead the FAA.
Bedford steps into the role at a time of renewed public anxiety about air travel following several high-profile accidents, including a deadly January 2025 collision near Washington, D.C. that killed 67 people.
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