Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Overseeing US Skies
Past Fines and Base Operation Suspension for SpaceX
Musk Demands FAA Chief Resignation Amid Controversy
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has announced reforms of federal agencies aimed at a so-called ‘small government,’ drawing attention to a showdown with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), considered his biggest adversary.
On the 18th (local time), U.S. political media outlet Politico reported, "One of the most cautious and rule-bound departments in the federal government is about to clash with the historically most dangerous opponent, ‘First Buddy’ Musk," adding, "The FAA is probably the only federal agency with the power to stand up to Musk."
The FAA, which oversees the skies of the United States, has had multiple conflicts with Musk, CEO of the space company SpaceX. Last September, the FAA fined SpaceX approximately $633,000 (about 886 million KRW) for failing to meet safety requirements during rocket launches last year. Additionally, the FAA suspended operations at SpaceX’s launch site in Texas for several months under the pretext of investigating the impact of rocket launches on wildlife and marine ecosystems.
In response, Musk repeatedly criticized the FAA’s actions on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling them politically motivated and excessive regulation. He also urged the resignation of FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, arguing that the FAA is too large and slow to achieve humanity’s goal of migrating to Mars. Whitaker reportedly has four years remaining in his term.
For now, the power seems to be in Musk’s hands. Rising as a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump and appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has expressed his intention to cut $2 trillion in federal spending and reduce the number of federal agencies from over 400 to fewer than 100. Politico noted, "The FAA, with its 50,000 employees, is a potential target of Musk," suggesting that the businessman might use his relationship with the next president to attack agencies that conflict with his business interests.
However, facing the FAA is not expected to be easy even for ‘First Buddy’ Musk. Unlike other federal agencies at the cabinet level, the FAA holds strict and extensive authority over the use of U.S. airspace. Current and former FAA officials have said, "The FAA is an agency with a very clear mission," and "No matter how much Musk stirs up the FAA, it will not simply bend."
Politico explained, "The FAA has been granted ultimate authority over who can use the nation’s skies through laws accumulated over nearly a century," adding, "Since 2009, there have been no fatal crashes involving U.S. airlines, and the U.S. aviation system accounts for more than 5% of the GDP, earning the FAA general respect from Congress."
However, Politico pointed out that some members of both U.S. political parties have called for a review of the FAA’s commercial space regulations to compete with China in lunar exploration, which could empower Musk. Representative Rick Crawford, who is mentioned as a potential next chairman of the House Transportation Committee overseeing the FAA, told Politico, "The FAA is too strict and slow in approving rocket launches," and said he would reform the FAA’s approval process if he becomes chairman.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump is reportedly scheduled to attend the sixth test flight launch of the ‘Starship’ in Texas at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the 19th, alongside Musk. The Starship, developed by SpaceX for lunar and Mars exploration, is described by CNN as the largest and most powerful rocket to date.
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