White House Removes NTSB Vice Chair Amid Safety Crisis

The Trump administration has removed Alvin Brown, the vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and a Democrat appointed by President Biden in December 2024. Brown, a former mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, joined the NTSB in March 2024. His dismissal comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. aviation safety following a deadly mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. that killed 67 people and major flight disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport due to equipment and staffing problems. President Trump has also removed Democratic members from independent agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the National Labor Relations Board. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to seek billions in congressional funding to overhaul air traffic control and staffing in response to recent safety concerns.