WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) joined Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine (both D-Va.), and others in sending a letter requesting answers and commitments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its plans to protect the flying public in the wake of the January 29 collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines airplane. In the letter, the lawmakers applauded the precautionary safety measures put in place by the FAA in response to the collision, as well as the agency’s collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation into the causes and factors behind the collision. They also stressed the need to carefully review existing protocols to ensure that flight operations do not simply return to business as usual.
The lawmakers also expressed serious concern with potential interference with the FAA by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has caused mayhem across the government, from attempting to push out nonpartisan civil servants, to reportedly accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment system, as well as systems at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“While we applaud FAA for early actions taken to bolster safety, recent actions indicate that your agency is inviting inexperienced individuals with intense partisan leanings into a process that should be objective and expert driven,” wrote the lawmakers, citing a tweet from Elon Musk. “We are extremely concerned that an ad hoc team of individuals lacking any expertise, exposure, certifications, or knowledge of aviation operations being invited, or inserting themselves, to make ‘rapid’ changes to our nation’s air traffic systems. This the wrong course of action to take.”
They continued, “We want the safest skies in the world, and any efforts to weaken standards will not be tolerated. Aviation safety is not an area to ‘move fast and break things’. Proven, methodical, and deliberate action is what is called for when any changes are considered to safety. We express in the strongest possible terms our alarm at allowing Musk’s cadre of unvetted, untrained, and unaccountable individuals the ability to make changes to complicated and sensitive FAA policies at a time when serious and knowledgeable people should be in charge.”
The lawmakers demanded a swift response to the following questions:
- The FAA’s current restrictions on helicopter flights at the National Airport are tied to the release of NTSB’s preliminary report. What factors will the FAA consider as it reassesses the need for extending or modifying the restrictions? Please provide details on, and documentation sufficient to substantiate, additional safety measures that are being contemplated and/or will be proposed to deconflict or otherwise improve safety in the air space over the National Airport.
- As you assess the need for additional measures, will you commit to consulting recognized aviation experts – both in and out of the federal government – to identify requirements or operational changes for civil and military aviation in the National Capital Region?
- On February 4, less than one week after the incident, reports emerged that the FAA directed its personnel to cease participating in Federal advisory or aviation rulemaking committees. Were FAA personnel directed to cease participating in these committees?
- If true, please describe the rationale for such a decision and provide documentation sufficient to substantiate any directives received from other Federal government officials, other individuals acting under the direction of the President, or who are otherwise asserting a legal authority to direct or influence decision-making at the FAA.
- On February 5, 2025, Elon Musk and Secretary Duffy each announced that DOGE would “upgrade our aviation system”.
- Were you informed of this decision in advance of either social media posting?
- What engagement have you had with DOGE at this time?
- What engagement has been discussed or is planned for the future?
- Do you have knowledge of what comprises the “rapid safety upgrades” Musk tweeted about?
- Do you commit to timely report to Congress any actions that the FAA is directed to undertake at the direction of the President, DOGE, or by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation regarding any aspect of aviation safety?
- Do you commit to providing the public with details about what recommendations DOGE staff and representatives provide to you in relation to aviation safety? Will you notify Congress if you elect to follow through on any recommendations provided to you by DOGE staff and representatives?
- In your prior experience at the FAA, has any special government employee been directed or otherwise empowered to influence the FAA officials on safety decisions?
- Will you commit the full cooperation and support of the FAA to the NTSB investigation and to swiftly implement its recommendations?
- Will you commit to examining the communication processes and protocols between the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and other stakeholders that are used during aviation operations in and around the National Airport and the National Capital Region?
- Will you commit to working with the U.S. Department of Defense to evaluate training protocols for required missions in the National Capital Region, particularly those around the National Airport and during high-traffic periods, and enact any modifications needed to reduce risk?
- Will you commit to briefing us on the implementation of changes to the slot (i.e., high density) rule included in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, given that the first of the routes authorized under that legislation will become operational this week?
In addition to Senators Alsobrooks, Van Hollen, Kaine, and Warner the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Don Beyer, Gerald Connolly, Suhas Subramanyam (all D-Va.), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Dc.).
A copy of the letter is available here.
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