Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about the role of billionaire Elon Musk in the resignation of Mike Whitaker, the former head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during the Biden administration. Whitaker's departure earlier this month left the agency without a key leader during a recent deadly aviation collision in the Washington, DC, area.
Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, penned a letter to Musk, who is currently working at the White House as the head of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. In her letter, Warren inquired whether Musk had any discussions with or about Whitaker prior to his resignation. She also questioned whether Musk had provided recommendations to Trump regarding airline safety and the FAA's role.
Furthermore, Warren sought clarification on whether Musk had recused himself from decisions that could impact his businesses and financial interests. She highlighted Musk's significant influence in the Trump administration and his advocacy for 'radical reform' at the FAA.
Musk had publicly called for Whitaker's resignation in September after the FAA proposed hefty fines against SpaceX for safety violations. The disagreement stemmed from the agency's oversight of rocket launches, leading to tensions between Whitaker and Musk.
Whitaker, who had begun a 5-year term in October 2023, announced his resignation to agency employees in December, effective on Inauguration Day, January 20.
The tragic midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in the loss of 67 lives, marking the end of the nation's 16-year streak without fatal crashes.
Following the incident, Trump appointed Chris Rocheleau, a former chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association, to serve as the acting head of the FAA.
