<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reportedly withdrawn his name from consideration after strong Republican criticism that he lacked experience in aviation safety. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Phil Washington, the CEO of Denver International Airport and former CEO of the Los Angeles Metro Transit Authority, was nominated by Biden last July. On Saturday night, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/biden-nominee-head-faa-withdraws-after-republican-attacks-sources-2023-03-26/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> his nomination was withdrawn because he did not have enough votes to get out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. A statement from the White House confirmed that Washington withdrew his name. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Unfortunately, an onslaught of unfounded Republican attacks on Mr. Washington’s service and experience irresponsibly delayed this process, threatened unnecessary procedural hurdles on the Senate floor, and ultimately have led him to withdraw his nomination today,” Abdullah Hassan, a White House spokesman, </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/26/us/politics/nominee-for-faa-post-withdraws-from-consideration.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The New York Times on Saturday. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A vote from the committee was expected to take place last Wednesday but was delayed. Sources <a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-biden-nominee-phillip-washington-senate-48c1fe8ebe385294a2a5eddf45547a3d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Associated Press that Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, was holding up the vote. Both Sinema and Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester declined to publicly say how they planned to vote. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Republicans have strongly objected to Washington’s nomination, citing a lack of aviation background, specifically at a time when the country has experienced numerous air travel headaches and aviation near-misses. He was appointed CEO of Denver International Airport in 2021, but that&#8217;s his only aviation-related experience, <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/bidens-choice-faa-administrator-withdraws-nomination-after-lack-senate-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox Business. Beyond this criticism, Republicans also pointed to a corruption investigation he’s reportedly connected to in Los Angeles, in which Washington denied any wrongdoing. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The FAA needs a confirmed Administrator, and Phil Washington’s transportation &amp; military experience made him an excellent nominee,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted to Twitter. “The partisan attacks and procedural obstruction he has faced are undeserved, but I respect his decision to withdraw and am grateful for his service,” he added. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During committee hearings in early March, Republicans didn’t hold back in </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/after-recent-aviation-near-misses-gop-sen-warns-biden-faa-nominee-inexperienced-in-aviation-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pointing</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> out Washington&#8217;s employment history. North Carolina Republican Senator Ted Budd said, “The FAA can’t afford to be led by someone who needs on-the-job training.” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued Washington’s “record is woefully lacking,” adding, “in fact, you have zero aviation safety experience.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Since Mr. Washington was nominated last July, it’s been clear to Democrat and Republican senators, numerous aviation groups, and any impartial observer that Mr. Washington lacked the aviation experience necessary to run the FAA,” Sen. Cruz said in a </span><a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2023/3/sen-cruz-issues-statement-on-phil-washington-withdrawing-his-nomination-to-serve-as-faa-administrator" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">statement</span></a> Saturday<span style="font-weight: 400;">. “Given the significant challenges facing the FAA, this wasn’t the time for an administrator who needed on-the-job training. The Biden administration must now quickly name someone to head the FAA who has an extensive aviation background, can earn widespread bipartisan support in the Senate, and will keep the flying public safe.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The current acting administrator for the FAA, pilot Billy Nolen, could have the support of at least one Republican senator already. Sen. Cruz believes Nolen could receive bipartisan support should he be nominated, the Associated Press reported. According to the FAA <a href="https://www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/nolen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, Nolen has 33 years of experience in “operations and corporate safety, regulatory affairs and flight operations.” </span></p>

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Biden FAA Nominee Withdraws After Criticism Over Lack Of Aviation Safety Experience