Mike Whitaker, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announced his resignation, effective January 20, 2025, after leading a stricter enforcement approach towards Boeing since an incident involving a Boeing jet in January.
The big picture: Whitaker’s resignation opens the path for President-elect Donald Trump to nominate his choice to head the agency, which regulates airlines, aircraft manufacturers and manages the nation’s airspace.
Driving the news: Whitaker, who took on the role in October 2023, faced challenges such as increased close calls between planes, air traffic controller shortages, and the need for enhanced oversight of Boeing, particularly following safety concerns related to a Boeing 737 Max incident on an Alaska Airlines flight.
- Serving as the FAA administrator for just over a year, Whitaker’s tenure saw a surge in enforcement cases against Boeing, doubling since the Alaska Airlines incident that prompted safety worries.
- Whitaker’s appointment followed nearly 19 months without a Senate-confirmed chief at the FAA, with his confirmation supported by a unanimous 98-0 Senate vote after a previous Biden nominee faced opposition from Republicans.
Go deeper: The position of FAA administrator, traditionally viewed as nonpartisan, typically entails a five-year term, with Whitaker’s predecessor, Stephen Dickson, also resigning before serving the full term.
