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Senate Confirms Bryan Bedford to Lead FAA

Confirmed on a 53-43 vote, he assumes leadership with intense scrutiny of flight safety.

Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Federal Aviation Administration, testifies at the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Bryan Bedford arrives to testify during his nomination hearing to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Russell Senate Office Building on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Bryan Bedford, confirmed Wednesday to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, is shown here at his Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing in June.

Overview

  • His nomination advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee by a 15-13 party-line vote before reaching the full Senate.
  • During his confirmation hearing, Bedford declined to guarantee adherence to the FAA’s 1,500-hour pilot training rule enacted after the 2009 Colgan Air crash.
  • Flight safety advocates, including families of the Colgan Air victims and pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, warned that his leadership could erode critical safety standards.
  • Supporters such as Sen. Ted Cruz, Airlines for America and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby highlighted Bedford’s 25-year tenure at Republic Airways and his commitment to modernizing air traffic systems.
  • He takes the helm as the FAA copes with staffing shortages, outdated technology and pressure to accelerate infrastructure upgrades following recent accidents and near misses.