Critical Of Early Moves By Trump Administration

Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN), the Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, questioned several leaders of national aviation organizations to gain their feedback on the implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, while citing the fatal mid-air collision in January over the Potomac River and a number of near misses to emphasize the need for modernization in aviation.

Rep. Cohen said in his opening statement, “Laws and words alone do not save lives. They require timely and accountable implementation. And today, sadly, the stakes are higher than ever.”

Taken together, the collision and near misses have “exposed additional serious vulnerabilities in our system. These are stark reminders that our work to modernize and secure our aviation infrastructure cannot wait,” he noted.

Continuing, he said, “Congress gave the FAA clear directives through the 2024 Reauthorization to modernize critical infrastructure, expedite deployment of new technologies, and hire and train the next generation of air traffic controllers. That was not a suggestion; it was a mandate.”

Cohen said that modernization of the air traffic control system is “one of our most urgent needs today.”

He mentioned that early actions by the Trump administration have “moved swiftly in the opposite direction” with layoffs in important elements of the aviation workforce.

However, he didn’t point out that retirements and layoffs were largely in senior management and other non-frontline positions and have no effect on safety, and in fact will enable more hiring of controllers and inspectors.

In his questioning of the witnesses, Cohen focused on aircraft evacuation standards in his Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act that requires the FAA to test passenger samples to determine if aircraft can be evacuated within the 90-second time limit mandated by law.

The expert witnesses in the hearing were:

• Ed Bolen, President and CEO, National Business Aviation Association
• Michael Robbins, President and CEO, Association of Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International
• Captain Jody Reven, President, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association
• Sara Nelson, International President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
• Darren Pleasance, President and CEO, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

FMI:  www.faa.gov/