On Thursday, while first responders were searching the Potomac River after a deadly plane crash, the agency responsible for regulating air travel, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was without a confirmed leader. President Trump took action that day, appointing Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year veteran of the FAA, as the acting administrator of the agency. Trump described Rocheleau as “highly respected” and praised his capabilities.
Rocheleau’s appointment came after Michael Whitaker, the previous FAA administrator, resigned when President Trump took office. Whitaker had been in the role for 15 months, but his time was marked by controversy, especially following criticism from Elon Musk, who was frustrated with the FAA’s oversight of his company, SpaceX. Musk had complained about the agency imposing large fines on SpaceX, calling it “harassment” and demanding Whitaker’s resignation. Whitaker’s departure followed a wave of resignations from many officials as the new administration took over, but he did not publicly link his resignation to Musk or the change in leadership.
Christopher Rocheleau is familiar with the FAA, having worked there multiple times. He was appointed as deputy administrator just a week before taking on the acting role. Rocheleau has a long career, including a role as chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association and serving as the FAA’s deputy associate administrator for aviation safety. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran and has worked for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Rocheleau’s appointment means that the FAA has had four acting administrators since 2018. The agency has faced challenges during these years, including criticism after two Boeing crashes in 2018 and 2019, unruly passenger behavior during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages, and various technological glitches. This has made the FAA’s oversight role particularly challenging.
Meanwhile, the new Secretary of Transportation, former Rep. Sean Duffy, was sworn in on Tuesday after the Senate confirmed him in a 77-22 vote. Duffy oversees the Department of Transportation, which includes the FAA. On Thursday, he made a statement promising to find out what caused the crash and ensure a thorough investigation into the incident. He pledged to hold anyone accountable if there was negligence or failure in the system.
