WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of today’s Senate vote on the confirmation of Bryan Bedford, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the following statement:

"The next Federal Aviation Administrator cannot have a light touch approach to aviation safety,” said Sen. Cantwell. “They need to provide the leadership at the FAA to ensure America is the gold standard for aviation safety. Mr. Bedford's willingness to change safety policies like reducing pilot training hours or considering single pilot cockpits is the opposite of the aggressive oversight the agency needs at this time."

During Bedford’s nomination hearing, Sen. Cantwell emphasized that, “we must have an Administrator who is an unwavering champion for safety, who strengthens safety standards, rather than seeking a way around them.” Throughout his questioning, Bedford refused to commit to not weaken the 1,500-hour pilot training rule if confirmed. In a late June statement opposing Bedford, Sen. Cantwell referred to this failure and his refusal to recuse himself from granting his own company an exemption from this critical safety requirement for his full term.

The Families of Flight 3407 vehemently oppose Bedford’s nomination, citing his past efforts to circumvent the 1,500-hour pilot training requirement. As CEO of Republic Airways, Bedford unsuccessfully petitioned the FAA to allow pilots to be hired with only 750 hours after completing a training program designed by his airline that he claimed was equal to military flight training. And Captain Sully Sullenberger released a statement strongly criticizing Mr. Bedford’s nomination, citing his poor record on aviation safety and, specifically, his lack of commitment to protect the 1,500-hour rule.

Sen. Cantwell has a long history of working to improve aviation safety. Most recently, on June 5, 2025, she led the introduction of the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 to strengthen aviation safety in the wake of the tragic mid-air collision on January 29^th that took the lives of 67 people in DCA airspace. Under her leadership as Chair of the Committee in 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed the Senate and House with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law. Boosting FAA’s safety-critical staff – including more air traffic controllers - was the top priority of the 2024 Reauthorization. In 2020, Sen. Cantwell’s landmark Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act strengthened the FAA’s oversight of aircraft manufacturers, mandated safety management systems for aircraft manufacturers, and required the FAA to convene an independent expert panel to review the safety processes and culture of Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) holders like Boeing.

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