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3d ago

Trump Administration Removes NTSB Vice Chair in Unprecedented Move

Alvin Brown's removal marks the first known ouster of an NTSB board member by the White House and occurs during heightened concerns over aviation safety in the U.S.

FILE - National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, center, pauses while speaking accompanied by NTSB Investigator in Charge, Marcel Muise, left, and NTSB board member Alvin Brown, during a news conference, March 27, 2024, in Linthicum Heights, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - The seal of the National Transportation Safety Board is seen before a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
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Overview

  • Alvin Brown, appointed to the NTSB board in March 2024 and designated vice chair by President Biden in December 2024, was removed by the Trump administration on May 5, 2025.
  • This is the first recorded instance of a White House removing an NTSB board member, a move typically unheard of for the independent agency.
  • Brown's removal comes as the NTSB faces scrutiny over aviation safety following a deadly mid-air collision in January 2025 and ongoing flight disruptions at Newark Airport.
  • The NTSB board now consists of four members, all appointed by President Trump, raising concerns about political influence on traditionally independent agencies.
  • Brown, the first Black mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, and a former USDOT advisor, was the only Black member of the NTSB board before his removal.