The United States government has announced a major overhaul of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), aiming to strengthen safety oversight following years of criticism over unaddressed aviation risks. The restructuring, unveiled on Monday, Jan. 26, by the Trump administration, will establish a new aviation safety office designed to consolidate responsibilities previously spread across five separate FAA units.
Pressure Mounts Ahead of NTSB Hearing
The move comes amid intense scrutiny of the agency’s handling of near-miss incidents, particularly around Reagan Washington National Airport, where a fatal collision earlier this year reignited concerns about systemic safety failures.
The FAA overhaul was announced just one day before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to publicly criticise the agency at a hearing into the January 2025 collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet, which killed 67 people.
Lawmakers from both parties have questioned why the FAA failed to act on repeated warnings about dangerous helicopter operations near the airport. According to the NTSB, more than 15,000 close-proximity incidents involving commercial aircraft and helicopters were recorded near Reagan National between 2021 and 2024. Among these were 85 serious close calls, involving aircraft separated by less than one nautical mile laterally and 400 feet vertically.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy has previously stated that the FAA ignored clear warning signs pointing to serious safety risks in the region.
New Safety Office and Risk Management System
The FAA said the new aviation safety office will form part of a broader strategic plan to improve hiring, training, and hazard detection across the agency. Officials emphasised that the restructuring will not result in job losses.
A key component of the reform includes the creation of a formal Safety Management System and the rollout of an FAA-wide safety risk management process, aimed at identifying potential hazards before they escalate into accidents.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, who assumed office in July, is overseeing a $12.5 billion rehabilitation of the US air traffic control system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has also called for an additional $19 billion to fully modernise the country’s ageing aviation infrastructure.
Recent Actions Signal Shift in Approach
In early May, the FAA barred the US Army from conducting helicopter flights around the Pentagon after a close call on May 1 forced two civilian aircraft to abort landings.
The agency is also in the process of relocating its headquarters to the main Department of Transportation offices in Washington, a move officials say will improve coordination and accountability.
Do you believe the FAA’s overhaul will prevent future aviation disasters, or is deeper reform still needed? Share your views in the comments below.
