FAA Administrator nominee Phil Washington opened his confirmation hearing this morning by telling the Senate Commerce Committee the FAA is at a crossroads and must protect the safest era of aviation, modernize technology, lift employee morale, and maintain its global leadership.
Washington, the CEO of Denver International Airport, also vowed to reinforce that the agency is a regulator of the aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and new entrants, and would be “guided by” the sacrifice and historic advocacy of the families of the Boeing 737 Max and Colgan Air accidents.
He further addressed head-on in his opening statement criticisms about his experience, saying as CEO of the Denver airport, passengers are not asking about his experience but where their luggage is and their safety and noted he has a lengthy background in senior leadership that he can draw upon.
Washington has served as CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and of the Denver Regional Transportation District. He also spent 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring from active duty as a disabled veteran with the rank of command sergeant. Washington further led Biden’s transition team for the Department of Transportation after the 2020 election.
However, the fate of the nomination is unclear. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking member of the committee, told Washington, “I don’t believe you have the votes for confirmation.” He further questioned whether Washington’s military background would require both the House and Senate to sign off on a waiver from a requirement that the administrator is a civilian.
Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) showed strong support for the nomination, calling Washington “an experienced, mission-driven leader who has successfully led three large and complex transportation organizations.” Cantwell added Washington is “a strong leader with two decades of senior leadership that we need to help accomplish the goals of the FAA.”
Cruz, however, stated “Mr. Washington is not the right nominee for the position” and said “Washington had a long and honorable career in the military, but he does not have any experience in aviation safety. This quite simply is a position he is not qualified” to hold.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Kentucky) further pointed to the complaints filed against or naming Washington in his roles in Los Angeles and Denver and the fact that he has been ensnared in a corruption probe that is still ongoing by the California Attorney General. “This gives me no great pleasure. What is going on with your nomination is not my idea of a good time but it is a responsibility we have.”
Cruz added that he spoke with the Attorney General's office last week and confirmed that the probe was still under investigation and that Washington was a "material" part of it. He also noted that the office confirmed that it had not yet received queries from the White House or others involved in the nomination process. Cantwell, however, has reached out, Cruz added.
During the hearing, Washington called the allegations against him untrue.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) and Sen. Michael Bennett (D-Colorado) both introduced him similarly extolling his background in managing large, complex organizations. “Veterans are renowned for their discipline, their leadership, their courage, and their dedication of service,” Bennett said. Washington “embodies all of these traits and more,” Hickenlooper said, adding that as leader of the Denver Regional Transportation District, he got the city’s transit system back on track.
Bennett further pointed to Washington’s role at Denver International in also getting a large expansion program on track after it was facing schedule slips and budget overruns and, disagreeing with Cruz, called him the “right man nominated at the right time.” He further pointed out several other FAA administrators who arrived at the agency with similar experience, including Jane Garvey.
Washington faced a range of questions from essential air service, to the 1,500-hour rule, and the FAA’s ability to adapt to emerging technologies.