FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker will step down from his role leading the agency next month, coinciding with the inauguration of President-elect Trump. Whitaker informed employees of his decision this morning in a letter, saying, “This has been the best and most challenging job of my career, and I wanted you to hear directly from me that my tenure will come to a close on Jan. 20, 2025.”

Whitaker’s decision to depart the agency comes a little more than a year after he was confirmed to the post for a five-year tenure. But he reportedly wanted to announce his intentions now to provide the incoming administration time to search for a successor.

In addition to Whitaker’s departure, Deputy Administrator Katie Thomson is leaving the agency on January 10. Mark House, assistant administrator for finance and management and 20-year FAA veteran, will become acting deputy administrator at that time.

“You have seen leadership come and go—and through every transition you have kept air travel steady and safe. This transition will be no different,” Whitaker said in his letter. “My confidence in you to meet our safety mission has never been stronger.”

Whitaker was confirmed as the agency has remained under intense public and congressional scrutiny in the wake of a series of high-profile close calls, Boeing oversight questions, and air traffic control shortage concerns. His confirmation had drawn overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle as well as industry last year, but SpaceX CEO and member of the incoming Trump team Elon Musk has called for his resignation.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) said she was “saddened and surprised” to hear of the decision. “If you want to be the leader in aviation, you have to be the leader in aviation safety. I think Administrator Whitaker was living by that motto. I hope that the next administrator will live by it as well,” Cantwell said. “The next administrator needs to be ready day one to continue the job of restoring the FAA’s safety culture and providing real oversight of the aviation sector.”

Meanwhile, industry groups lauded his time at the FAA. “While short, Mike’s tenure in the left seat at the FAA has been consequential—a number of important priorities have been advanced under his leadership, including measures to enhance safety, foster innovation, integrate new entrants into the aviation system, and build the next-generation workforce,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank him for his service to our nation and our industry, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

“As a private pilot, he knows and cares about general aviation and made sure our voices were heard. We wish him the best," added Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association president Mark Baker.