FAA Chief Mike Whitaker to Step Down

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Mike Whitaker, who has overseen the agency's response to significant safety issues at Boeing since a mid-air emergency in January, will step down when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a close adviser to Trump, in September called for Whitaker's resignation and harshly criticized the FAA's decision to impose a $633,000 fine on SpaceX after the agency said the company violated launch license requirements.

Trump has indicated plans to remove many officials before their terms expire but had not specified plans for the FAA.

Whitaker, who was confirmed to a five-year term as FAA administrator in October 2023, will leave his position on January 20, the day Trump is inaugurated for his second term in the White House.

> "As I conclude my time at the FAA, my confidence in you to meet our safety mission has never been stronger," Whitaker said in a memo to employees on Thursday.

The FAA also announced that Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson will step down on January 10, resulting in Mark House, the agency's assistant administrator for finance and management, being the senior acting official during the transition.

Whitaker expressed uncertainty about staying beyond January 20 as conversations with the transition team continued. His tenure has largely focused on addressing Boeing safety issues, particularly after a door panel missing four key bolts flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 jet at 16,000 feet.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat who heads a subcommittee on aviation, voiced sadness over Whitaker's departure and praised his oversight of Boeing. "I hope the effort he spearheaded on that front will continue," she said.

Whitaker took the significant step of capping Boeing's production at 38 737 MAX planes per month in January and insisted the company implement dramatic safety improvements before restoring authority.

He announced another audit of Boeing in October, stating it might take five years for the company to reform its safety culture, while noting improvements such as a new parts management system and enhanced training.

Additionally, he has managed ongoing air traffic control staffing issues and a series of near-miss incidents that have heightened safety concerns.