Tonight, the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 to confirm Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s nominee to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which oversees the FAA, applauded the Senate’s unanimous vote.  

“Michael Whitaker’s overwhelming confirmation demonstrates the Senate's commitment to getting aviation right. There is a lot to do on FAA staffing, technology upgrades, and safety improvements and Whitaker is the right person to lead it.” Sen. Cantwell said after the vote.

Earlier today, Sen. Cantwell took to the Senate floor and called for senators to support his nomination.  

Watch Senator Cantwell’s Floor Speech on Confirming Michael Whitaker

Senator Cantwell successfully shepherded Michael Whitaker’s nomination through the Senate Commerce Committee with unanimous approval on October 18, 2023. Michael Whitaker was nominated by President Biden on September 7. Throughout his nomination hearing on October 4, Whitaker demonstrated his depth of aviation experience and commitment to safety, building the FAA workforce and addressing agency challenges.

Whitaker brings more than 30 years of aviation experience from a variety of roles in industry and government, including serving as Deputy FAA Administrator from 2013-2016. He has received unprecedented support from across the aviation community, including pilots and flight attendants, air traffic controllers, airlines, airports, manufacturers and machinists, past DOT and FAA leaders and the families of the ET302 crash victims.