FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker will resign his post early next year, he announced Thursday. An internal email announcing the decision posted on X by CNN transportation reporter Alexandra Skores stated that Whitaker plans to resign on January 20, which is also President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day. Whitaker’s departure will occur 14 months into a five-year term. “Serving as Administrator of the [FAA]—with this incredible team—has been the honor of my lifetime,” Whitaker said in the email. “The United States is the safest and most complex airspace in the world, and that is because of your commitment to the safety of the flying public.” Whitaker will cut short his time as administrator just a little over a year after he was confirmed by the Senate in October 2023. His appointment ended a 19-month period where the position was left vacant.
