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Whistleblower

Issue: Aviation

Cantwell, Duckworth, Warner, Markey, Shaheen & Klobuchar Reintroduce Legislation to Review and Strengthen FAA’s Safety Management System to Ensure Agency Comprehensively Identifies and Corrects Safety Risks

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill,), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 to improve the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety oversight and its ability to identify and address aviation safety issues.

New Day, New Excuse Cantwell Blasts Bedford About Failure to Divest Airline Stock Holdings

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, blasted Bryan Bedford, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, for failing to take responsibility for divesting potentially millions of dollars in Republic Airways holdings within 90 days of his confirmation, a clear violation of his ethics agreement. The exchange came during an aviation subcommittee hearing.

Cantwell Urges Support for Bipartisan Amendment to Remove NDAA Provision Threatening Air Safety

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke on the Senate floor this afternoon to urge support of her bipartisan amendment to strike Section 373 from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would weaken aviation safety law and codify the loophole that allowed military aircraft to operate in DC airspace—within a few hundred feet of commercial aircraft—without ADS-B Out transmitting their location. Sen. Cantwell and Commerce Committee Chair Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also filed an amendment to replace section 373 with their bipartisan ROTOR Act.

Sens. Cantwell and Cruz File Amendment to Strike Section 373 From NDAA

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) striking section 373 which rolls back safety measures put in place after last January’s devastating mid-air collision and codifies loopholes that allowed military aircraft to operate in DC airspace without ADS-B Out transmitting their location. The Senators also filed an amendment to replace section 373 with their bipartisan ROTOR Act.

“Who thinks it’s a good idea?” Sen. Cantwell Warns Provision Added to NDAA Threatens Aviation Safety, Allows Military Aircraft to Operate in DC Airspace Without ADS-B Out Transmitting Location

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke on the Senate Floor tonight to warn that a last-minute provision added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would threaten aviation safety and must be removed to protect the flying public. Section 373 of the NDAA rolls back safety measures put in place after last January’s devastating mid-air collision which took the lives of 67 people, and preserves loopholes that allowed military aircraft to operate in DC airspace without ADS-B Out transmitting their location.

FAA Administrator Bedford in Violation of Ethics Agreement, Potentially Holds Millions in Republic Airways Stock Months After Confirmation, Committee Learns

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, demanded answers from Bryan Bedford, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on his failure to divest potentially millions of dollars in Republic Airways holdings within 90 days of his confirmation, a clear violation of his ethics agreement. According to his financial disclosure, at the time of his nomination, Administrator Bedford reported holding stock in Republic worth between $6 million and $30 million.

Cantwell Blasts Republicans Ahead of Vote to Replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, Illegally Fired by Trump

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, slammed Senate Republicans ahead of a vote scheduled for Monday evening on Trump nominee John DeLeeuw to replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, who President Trump unlawfully removed from his position. Vice Chair Brown, who was unanimously approved by the Senate for a term through December 2026, has a pending lawsuit over the removal.

Cantwell Demands Answers from BP About Pipeline Spill Severely Impacting Delivery of Jet Fuel to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today wrote to BP North America Chief Executive Officer Murray Auchincloss demanding immediate answers about the Olympic Pipeline leak that has cut off delivery of jet fuel to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, there are concerns that the incident may increase gas prices in Western Washington for the next several weeks.

Ranking Member Cantwell, Sen. Markey, Colleagues Call on Trump DOT to Stop Making Air Travel Costs More Expensive, Less Transparent for Passengers

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 16 Democratic colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, urging DOT to reverse its decision to roll back popular consumer protections created by the Biden Administration requiring airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays and cancellations and to disclose any ancillary fees upfront so consumers understand the actual cost of flights.