President Barack Obama’s choices for Secretary of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administrator will have a big effect on the political and regulatory climate in which pilots will fly for the next four years. But given the nation’s current economic, environmental, and security conditions, other positions need to be watched, as well.
AOPA is keeping close track of who is selected and letting our members and the entire aviation community know right away what those selections mean. Using drop-down boxes, the special Obama Administration box lists the positions and why they are important to general aviation. As positions are filled, the drop-down boxes are checked off, and information about the specific nominees is added.
Department of Transportation
Secretary of Transportation
Ray LaHood
The Secretary of Transportation has 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
Randy Babbitt
Randy Babbitt, formerly an aviation and labor relations consultant and president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), was sworn in as the FAA’s sixteenth administrator on June 1. The FAA administrator is at the controls of all aviation regulations and policies; he will play a key role in airport funding and ATC modernization.
Secretary of Homeland
Secretary of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano
The DHS secretary is responsible for securing and defending the homeland, short of a direct military response. 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, such as 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
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Lisa Jackson
The Environmental Protection 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.
White House Office of Management and Budget
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., Special Flight Rules Area, Large Aircraft Security Program, and custom’s Advance Passenger Information System.
White House staff
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.
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