top of page

U.S. FAA says five political appointees resigning after Capitol riot

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said late Thursday that five non-career staff members at the agency will resign effective Monday in the wake of the assault on the U.S. Capitol, including the acting No. 2 official.


The email from FAA chief of staff Angela Stubblefield said “all our non-career staff members here at FAA” that had been appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump were resigning.


“Like all of us, they are outraged by the brazen and violent attack on one of the sacred institutions of American democracy,” her email added.


Those resigning are Arjun Garg, chief counsel and current acting deputy FAA administrator, Brianna Manzelli, assistant administrator for communications, Kirk Shaffer, assistant administrator for Airports, Bailey Edwards, assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment, and Andrew Giacini, acting administrator for legislative affairs, the agency confirmed.


The appointees would typically have left on Jan. 20 when President-elect Joe Biden takes office.


The resignations came after U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chaoannounced her resignation effective Monday.


FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in a video message Thursday thanked the departing FAA employees “for their extraordinary leadership in this agency, their steadfast focus on safety and their tremendous support that they have given me.”


He called the violence at the U.S. Capitol “reprehensible and unpardonable.”


This article originally appeared on CNBC

3 views0 comments
bottom of page