The Senate has scheduled a cloture vote tomorrow to limit debate on the nomination of Michael Whitaker to serve as the next FAA administrator. If approved, the vote would clear the way for full Senate confirmation of the nomination, which has received wide support on both sides of the aisle as well as throughout industry.

The vote follows the Senate Commerce Committee’s unanimous approval of the nomination last week. “Mr. Whitaker is highly qualified with more than 30 years of aviation experience in both the public and private sectors,” said committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington).

Cantwell noted that the FAA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator since March 31, 2022, and added that it was imperative that the nomination move to a Senate floor vote. “His nomination has attracted bipartisan support and broad agreement within the aviation community. I appreciate Mr. Whitaker’s commitment to independent leadership, recruiting new talent and building a strong safety culture at the FAA.”

Senate Commerce Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas)—whose opposition to the previous nominee, Phil Washington, helped lead to his withdrawal from consideration—also threw his support behind Whitaker. “His extensive aviation experience makes him well-suited to lead our nation’s largest transportation safety agency and he has pledged to focus on aviation safety, the FAA’s primary responsibility,” Cruz said.

He also expressed hope that the committee would resume consideration of FAA reauthorization shortly “so that—once confirmed—Mr. Whitaker will have the tools necessary to do his job.”

If confirmed as expected, Whitaker, who is COO at Supernal, would bring an extensive background in airline operations and leadership roles to the job as well as formerly serving as deputy administrator.