Senate Confirms Vermonter Michael Whitaker as First Permanent FAA Administrator in 19 Months

The Senate has confirmed Michael Whitaker as the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ending a more than 18-month period of relying on acting chiefs. Whitaker takes charge of the agency during a critical time, as it faces a shortage of air traffic controllers and investigates a series of near-miss incidents. He plans to prioritize increasing the number of controllers and reducing runway incursions. The FAA has extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at high-traffic airports in New York City due to staffing shortages, causing operational disruptions for airlines.