Biden's pick to run Federal Aviation Administration postponed by Republicans

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Biden's pick to run Federal Aviation Administration postponed by Republicans

FILE - PhillipPhillip Washington, the nominee to become the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, testifies in front of the Senate Commerce,Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on March 1, 2023 at the Capitol in Washington, March 1, 2023. A vote on President Joe Biden's choice to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, Denver International Airport CEO Washington, was postponed Wednesday, March 22 due to an opposition blitz by Republicans who claim that the nominee lacks enough experience in aviation to lead the agency, which is under pressure to stem a surge in close calls between planes. A vote on president Joe Biden's choice to run the Federal Aviation Administration was postponed Wednesday due to an opposition from Republicans who claim that the nominee doesn't have the experience to lead the agency, which is under pressure to stem a surge in dangerous close calls between planes.

The Senate Commerce Committee was scheduled to vote on Denver International Airport CEO Phillip Washington whose nomination has been truncated since Biden announced his choice last July.

Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. said the vote would be delayed to gather information requested by senators. She did not detail the information or name the committee members who sought the delay.

Since March 2022, the FAA hasn't had a Senate-confirmed administrator when Stephen Dickson stepped down midway through his term. Billy Nolen is the acting administrator of the agency.

The nomination has been turned into a high-profile contest between Biden and Senate Democrats because of the fact that the FAA administrator is not a cabinet-level job.

Washington has strong ties to the administration — he led the transition team for the Transportation Department, which includes the FAA.

Republicans argue that he lacks experience in the FAA's core mission of aviation safety.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Tuesday on the Senate floor that this is a job for someone with specialized knowledge needed to ensure the safety of the flying public. Phil Washington is indisputably unqualified to lead the FAA. Federal investigators are looking at six recent close calls between planes — in one instance a FedEx plane came within less than 100 feet of a Southwest jet after an air traffic controller cleared both to use the same runway in Austin, Texas.