• Federal Aviation Administration chief Mike Whitaker will step down when President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace, Whitaker mentioned in a memo to staff on Thursday.
• SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a detailed adviser to Trump, in September referred to as for Whitaker’s resignation and harshly criticized the FAA’s resolution to impose a $633,000 effective on SpaceX.
• The FAA additionally mentioned Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson will step down on Jan. 10, which is able to imply FAA assistant administrator for finance and administration Mark Home would be the company’s senior appearing official in the course of the transition.

Federal Aviation Administration chief Mike Whitaker, who has overseen the company’s response to vital questions of safety at Boeing since a midair emergency in January, will step down when President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace subsequent month.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a detailed adviser to Trump, in September referred to as for Whitaker’s resignation and harshly criticized the FAA’s resolution to impose a $633,000 effective on SpaceX after the company mentioned the corporate violated launch license necessities.

Trump has mentioned he plans to oust many officers earlier than their phrases expire however had not specified plans for the FAA.

DRONE ACTIVITY NEAR TRUMP BEDMINSTER, ARMY ARSENAL SPURS NJ FLIGHT RESTRICTION: FAA

Whitaker, who was confirmed to a five-year time period as FAA administrator in October 2023, will depart his place on Jan 20, the day Trump is inaugurated for his second time period within the White Home.

“As I conclude my time on the FAA, my confidence in you to fulfill our security mission has by no means been stronger,” Whitaker mentioned in a memo to staff on Thursday.

The FAA additionally mentioned Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson will step down on Jan. 10, which is able to imply Mark Home, the company’s assistant administrator for finance and administration, would be the company’s senior appearing official in the course of the transition.

Michael G. Whitaker, who turned FAA Administrator in October 2023, will step down when President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace, Whitaker mentioned in a memo to staff on Dec. 12, 2024. (Federal Aviation Administration)

Whitaker advised Reuters final week that he was uncertain if he would keep past Jan. 20 as conversations with the transition group continued.

His tenure has been consumed with addressing Boeing questions of safety after a door panel lacking 4 key bolts flew off an Alaska Airways 737 MAX 9 jet at 16,000 toes.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat who heads a subcommittee on aviation, mentioned she was saddened about Whitaker’s departure and praised his oversight of Boeing. “I hope the hassle he spearheaded on that entrance will proceed,” she mentioned.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The FAA chief took the unprecedented step of capping Boeing’s manufacturing at 38 737 MAX planes per 30 days in January and has insisted the corporate make dramatic security enhancements earlier than he would restore authority.

Whitaker, who introduced one other audit of Boeing in October, has mentioned it may take 5 years for the corporate to reform its security tradition, however famous the planemaker has deployed a brand new elements administration system and improved coaching.

He has additionally handled persevering with air site visitors management staffing points and a collection of near-miss incidents which have raised security issues.