Head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Whitaker, will step down on January 20th. Whitaker was confirmed last October for a five-year term. He implemented production limits and increased scrutiny of Boeing following a door-plug blowout on a Boeing 737 Max in January. The FAA has faced leadership changes amid challenges like Boeing 737 Max crashes, the COVID pandemic, and aviation safety concerns. The next FAA administrator, yet to be nominated by President-elect Donald Trump, will inherit oversight of Boeing, air traffic control modernization, and the burgeoning space industry.
