Trump Administration Removes Biden Appointee from National Transportation Safety Board
The Trump administration has removed Alvin Brown, the vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), from his position, marking a significant shift in the composition of the independent government agency responsible for investigating major transportation accidents. Brown, a Democrat, was appointed to the role in the waning days of the Biden administration, just a month before President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The White House confirmed Brown’s removal to Fox News Digital, signaling a clear change in leadership and potentially a shift in the board’s priorities. Brown had served on the five-person safety panel since March 2024, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous roles in public service.
Prior to his appointment to the NTSB, Brown served as the first Black mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, from 2011 to 2015. His tenure as mayor was marked by efforts to improve infrastructure, promote economic development, and enhance community engagement. Following his mayoral term, Brown served as a senior advisor for Community Infrastructure Opportunities for the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2022, further demonstrating his commitment to transportation and infrastructure issues.
The NTSB plays a crucial role in ensuring transportation safety across the United States. As an independent government agency, it is charged with investigating major transportation accidents, including plane crashes, train derailments, and maritime incidents. The board’s investigations aim to determine the probable cause of accidents and to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The NTSB’s work is essential for improving safety standards and regulations in the transportation industry. Its investigations often lead to changes in policies, procedures, and technologies that enhance the safety of travelers and transportation workers. The board’s recommendations are carefully considered by government agencies, industry stakeholders, and other organizations involved in transportation safety.
As of Tuesday morning, the NTSB’s website listed four members, all of whom were appointed by Trump either during his first or second administration. These members are Chair Jennifer L. Homendy, Michael Graham, Thomas B. Chapman, and J. Todd Inman. The removal of Brown and the current composition of the board suggest a potential shift in the agency’s focus and priorities under the Trump administration.
The Trump administration has faced several challenges related to transportation safety in recent months. A plane crash on January 29 near the nation’s capital resulted in the tragic deaths of 67 people after an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This devastating accident, along with other high-profile plane crashes, has underscored the importance of effective transportation safety oversight and regulation.
In addition to the plane crashes, air travel has experienced significant delays in recent days, particularly at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport. These delays were attributed to a temporary loss of communication between air traffic controllers and planes. The disruptions caused frustration and inconvenience for travelers, highlighting the need for improvements in air traffic control systems.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the delays and the broader challenges facing the nation’s air traffic control system during an appearance on Fox News. He outlined plans to overhaul and "radically transform" the system, emphasizing the need for new technology, infrastructure, and personnel.
"We’re going to build a brand-new air traffic control system – from new telecom, to new radars, to new infrastructure. We’re bringing on new air traffic controllers," Duffy said. "This has been a problem in the decades coming, and we’re going to fix it."
Duffy acknowledged the importance of ensuring safety during periods of disruption. "When you have an incident like this, you want to make sure that people are safe," he said, referring to the delays in Newark. "And so, you just have less departures out of the airport until we feel comfortable and safe that the system isn’t going to go down again."
The NTSB is currently investigating a deadly Hudson River tour helicopter crash, highlighting the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve safety in various modes of transportation. The board is also calling for a ban on some helicopter routes near Reagan Airport following a midair collision that killed 67 people.
The removal of Alvin Brown from the NTSB and the ongoing challenges facing the transportation sector underscore the importance of effective leadership and expertise in ensuring safety and efficiency. The Trump administration’s actions and policy decisions in the coming months will likely have a significant impact on the future of transportation safety in the United States. The public and industry stakeholders will be closely watching to see how the administration addresses these challenges and works to improve the safety and reliability of the nation’s transportation systems.
