The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bryan Bedford, has not sold his sizable stake in Republic Airways as previously promised, raising eyebrows among lawmakers. Senator Maria Cantwell expressed her disappointment in a recent letter, highlighting that Bedford had committed to divest his shares within 90 days of his confirmation, a deadline now surpassed by 150 days. Despite the quick growth of Republic’s stock following a merger, which reportedly increased its value from an estimated $6 million to $30 million, Bedford has yet to act. This inaction comes amidst growing safety concerns within the FAA, notably highlighted by recent accidents and a severe shortage of air traffic controllers. As public scrunity mounts, Bedford's non-compliance with his ethical agreement may further erode trust in an agency already facing criticism for its oversight.
FAA Chief's Unkept Promise Raises Ethical Concerns
The head of the FAA, Bryan Bedford, has failed to divest from his multimillion-dollar airline stake, leading to allegations of ethical violations.
Despite a promise to sell his shares in Republic Airways within 90 days of his confirmation, FAA Chief Bryan Bedford remains a stakeholder more than 150 days later. Senator Maria Cantwell has called this a clear ethics violation, demanding accountability as Bedford's estimated stock value ranges between $6 and $30 million. The FAA has been under scrutiny for safety issues, including near-collisions and long delays, which Bedford has vowed to address. However, public trust is wavering under the weight of this non-compliance.
