The Dispensability of Qualifications

The U.S. Senate has no plans to consider Joe Biden's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until next year—so says Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (Democrat, Washington State).

Cantwell, who heads the Senate panel that oversees the FAA, set forth that she plans to wait until the new Congress convenes in January 2023 to hold a hearing during which Denver International Airport Chief Executive Phil Washington will be vetted to head the world’s most powerful and influential aviation regulatory body.

The position has been vacant since March 2022 when Steve Dickson, who was nominated to the position by President Donald Trump in 2019, stepped down to spend more time with his family.

Cantwell claims to have imminent plans to meet with Washington—who was nominated for the top FAA post in July 2022 but has not yet been granted a confirmation hearing. "There wasn't enough time to meet with him and get him to the floor," Cantwell prevaricated. The lawmaker is steadfast in her belief that the Biden White House will stand by Washington—notwithstanding his dearth of germane experience and direct connection to allegations of corruption—and renominate him next year.

In the absence of a permanent Administrator, top aviation safety official Billy Nolen has been running the FAA on an interim basis.

Senator Roger Wicker (Republican, Mississippi), the Commerce Committee’s top GOP member, has expressed  skepticism about Washington due to his "lack of experience in aviation,” and stated openly that he should not be approved.

In September 2022, Senator Wicker remarked that he was "deeply troubled" to learn Washington was named in a search warrant that ties him to allegations of corruption at LA Metro."

Asked in December 2022 if there was time this year to hold a hearing on Washington's nomination or if the matter was a dead issue, Wicker asserted: "It should be dead."

The search warrant to which Senator Wicker referred was issued 01 March 2021 by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detectives and indicates law enforcement officials believe multiple felonies were committed by executives and ranking members of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority—including Phil Washington. The warrant, which was reportedly executed at an LA County supervisor’s home, is alleged to have turned up evidence—including documents pertaining to Phil Washington—that is currently being reviewed for possible misappropriation stemming from the alleged no-bid contracts.

FMI: www.faa.gov