The Federal Aviation Administration’s head, Bryan Bedford, told a House aviation subcommittee on Tuesday that the 67 deaths from the January air-liner and Army helicopter collision will not be forgotten. Bedford said he would not let operations over the nation’s capital return to the pre-crash state.
A Commitment to Safety
Bedford opened the hearing with a stark reminder of the human cost of the tragedy. “It’s unfortunate, it’s beyond unfortunate, it’s tragic that the focus that we have today – the attention and our sort of unified, galvanized effort to modernize – was paid for with the lives of 67 Americans. It’s unfortunate, but that sacrifice can’t go to waste,” Bedford said. “We have to deliver for them and for the rest of the American people.”
He reiterated that the FAA will not roll back the safety procedures implemented after the collision. “There’s no rolling back of the safety procedures we put in place since that horrific evening,” Bedford said without taking a position on the defense bill. “Our vigilance isn’t waning.”
The agency’s post-crash reforms include mandatory use of ADS-B for all aircraft, separation of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and a shift from visual separation to system-based monitoring. Bedford said these changes will remain in force.
Defense Bill and Airspace Debate
The hearing also addressed the controversial provisions of a major defense bill that critics say could make air travel riskier. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) are pushing to amend the bill, but congressional leaders fear delaying the bill by sending it back to the House could jeopardize the bill’s passage. If amendments fail, Cruz and Cantwell have promised to support a separate bill introduced last summer that would require all aircraft to broadcast their positions.
Bedford did not comment on the bill’s merits, but he emphasized that the FAA would maintain the safety upgrades it has already enacted.
Ethics and the Republic Airways Stake
Bedford also responded to ethics concerns raised by Cantwell last week about his failure to divest his stake in Republic Airways within 90 days of confirmation. In a letter to ethics officials, Bedford explained that he was occupied with launching the air-traffic-control overhaul and dealing with controller shortages during the government shutdown. He said he thought he had time to sell the stake, but an ethics office email clarified that an extension would not be granted.
In the same letter, Bedford pledged to recuse himself from any Republic-related decisions until the multimillion-dollar investment is sold. He noted that Republic has not yet provided him with share certificates following its merger with Mesa Air Group last month.
Peraton Chosen for System Modernization
The FAA’s plan to overhaul the nation’s air-traffic-control system is a $12.5 billion congressional appropriation. Bedford told the committee that by year-end the agency expects to have committed more than $6 billion of that amount. He highlighted that the agency has already replaced more than one-third of the outdated copper wiring with fiber-optic connections.
However, Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) questioned the choice of Peraton, a national-security contractor with limited FAA experience, to oversee the upgrade. Johnson raised concerns about potential safety risks, delays, and workforce strain. Peraton is owned by the private-equity firm Veritas Capital.
Bedford explained that Peraton was selected for its expertise in converting analog systems to digital and moving them to the cloud. He said the other applicant, Parsons, had extensive FAA experience but lacked the cloud experience needed for the FAA’s goal of moving computing power out of individual towers to a national system.
“Peraton brought a competency that is relevant to what we need. It had nothing to do with who they knew. The president did not interfere, nor did the secretary in the selection process. It was transparent. It was diligent,” Bedford said.
Flight Reductions During the Shutdown
In a separate letter to lawmakers, Bedford defended the FAA’s decision during the government shutdown to order airlines to cut thousands of flights. He cited concerns about controller staffing and safety data, echoing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s rationale at the time. Bedford said safety experts had noted a dramatic rise in controller absences, near-misses, and runway incursions, but he did not provide specific data.
“I am confident that decreasing operations during an uncertain and stressful time was the right decision on behalf of the flying public and the United States,” Bedford said.
Key Takeaways
- The FAA will keep the safety measures introduced after the 67-person crash in place.
- Senators Cruz and Cantwell seek to amend the defense bill or pass a new bill to force aircraft to broadcast positions.
- Bedford remains in the process of divesting his Republic Airways stake and has pledged recusal.
- Peraton was chosen for the $31 billion modernization project because of its cloud-migration expertise.
- The FAA justified flight cuts during the shutdown on safety grounds, citing increased controller absences.
The agency’s actions underscore its determination to honor the memory of those lost in the January collision while navigating legislative challenges and ongoing modernization efforts.
