Department of Transportation Secretary

This person will have the responsibility of developing and implementing policies across all modes of transportation, including aviation. As a cabinet-level representative for aviation, the appointee is a central person for FAA funding, ATC modernization, and FAA policy and rulemaking that affects pilots and aircraft.

FAA Administrator

The administrator is at the controls of all aviation safety, regulations, and policies. The person will play a key role in airport funding and ATC modernization.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary

Arizona Gov., Janet Napolitano

The DHS secretary is responsible for securing and defending the homeland, short of a direct military response. Ms. Napolitano will be in charge of a multi-agency, coordinated effort to secure the U.S. borders and check people entering the country. She will oversee many departments that affect general aviation, like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Transportation Security Administration

The head of the TSA is responsible for developing and implementing security policies for each mode of transportation, including aviation. This person will have a direct impact on how heavily the government pursues mandatory general aviation security regulation.

Customs and Border Protection

Charged with securing the U.S. borders, the head of the CBP establishes policies and regulations for border crossing. This position influences the regulation of general aviation’s international operations, as demonstrated by the recent electronic advance passenger information rule.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

The agency oversees implementation of environmental policies across the country. Though the agency develops policy, it is typically implemented at the state level, except for aviation. Environmental policies concerning aviation must be developed in conjunction with the FAA. The EPA will play a key role in the future of avgas and aircraft emissions.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Peter Orszag

OMB’s predominant mission is to assist the President in overseeing the preparation of the federal budget and to supervise its administration in Executive Branch agencies. This includes funding ATC modernization, the FAA, aviation safety, and airport improvements. Historically, the OMB has favored more money coming from aviation users than from the general fund. The office also weighs the cost and benefit of all proposed federal regulations. AOPA has met with the OMB multiple times on key issues such as the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone, large aircraft security program, and Custom’s advance passenger information system.

Economic and policy advisors guide the president on government policies—from broad international and defense policies to specific aviation policies. The views these advisors have on general aviation will influence the proposed regulations coming from the administration.