WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement reiterating his support for Phil Washington’s nomination to serve as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Hickenlooper is calling for his confirmation by the Senate after an outage of the FAA’s Notice of Air Missions (NOTAM) system resulted in the cancellation or delay of thousands of flights:
“Air travel in America shouldn’t grind to a halt because of an outdated computer system. Today’s chaos is just the latest in a string of disruptions to air travel.
“The FAA needs a permanent Senate-confirmed administrator who knows how to get things done. Phil Washington, who served for 24 years as a U.S. Army command sergeant major, is that person and the Senate should confirm him.”
The FAA has been without a permanent administrator since March 2022. President Joe Biden nominated Washington to the role last year, and renominated Washington just last week. Washington’s nomination will require confirmation by the U.S. Senate, including approval by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where Hickenlooper sits. The Senate will also vote to reauthorize the FAA for the first time since 2018 later this year.
The FAA is responsible for the safety of civil aviation in the United States and is overseen by the Department of Transportation.
Washington is currently the CEO of Denver International Airport.
###