The Department of Transportation has announced a reorganization of the FAA that essentially divides departmental responsibilities between the administrator and deputy administrator. It also adds a couple of departments to address emerging technologies and the first phase of the modernization of the Air Traffic Organization. There will also be a safety oversight department that will make safety data more generally accessible for other departments. The news release made a point of noting that no jobs will be lost with the reorganization. “With these critical organizational changes, the FAA can streamline the bureaucracy, encourage innovation, and deliver a new air traffic control system at the speed of Trump —all while enhancing safety,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The Airspace Modernization office will focus entirely on making sure technological improvements throughout the NAS are made as quickly as possible. A new Advanced Aviation Technologies office will look after drones, eVTOLS, and other new forms of air transport and their integration into the National Airspace System. Presumably for continuity’s sake, there will be more permanent appointments to lead roles and administrative management will be consolidated. “These actions will put permanent leaders in place who embrace innovation, share safety data and insights freely and are focused on deploying a brand-new air traffic control system all while integrating key innovation technologies into the new National Airspace System (NAS),” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. He will take on five departments, including the modernization and safety offices, and the deputy administrator will take over four departments including advanced technologies and commercial space transportation.
“With these critical organizational changes, the FAA can streamline the bureaucracy, encourage innovation, and deliver a new air traffic control system at the speed of Trump – all while enhancing safety,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.”
Not possible in meaning to use the words in the same sentence” at the speed of Trump-all the while enhancing safety”. If there is ever a position of responsibility and authority that should be apolitical, it’s the Transportation Secretary. Yet, at every opportunity, this one remains on the campaign trail for the US version of a “supreme leader”.
The last thing we need is a new version of NexGen rushed into operation at the speed of Trump. I thought ATC was for traffic separation safety, not an aerial train wreck of converging aluminum due to politically motivated haste, orchestrated within the still and always will be, glacial FAA, lead by a campaign manager rather than a knowledgeable, intelligent, thoughtful, and articulate Transportation Secretary. The only thing that moves at the speed of Trump are TFR’s popping up under 1,000 feet vertically, 6,000 feet latterly over anything moving or flying, marked or unmarked owned by DHS, near any golf course, and within 2,000 miles of America’s next desired regime change. Might as well streamline the NOTAM process by issuing an indefinite, global NOTAM instructing the blue orb is under one TFR. Voila!…Major FAA bureaucracy mission creep avoided… At the speed of Trump.
This reorganization was mandated by congress in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. It had bipartisan support and passed the Senate 88 to 4 and the House 387 to 26 and was signed into law by President Biden. So why are Trump and Duffy even mentioned?
Because some folks, even though articulate, can not post anything without showing their political colors. Sad…
Probably because Duffy mentioned the other guy in his comment. And seemingly taking credit for something that wasn’t even signed into law by this administration.