FAA Nominee's Pilot Claims Face Scrutiny, Doubts

Bryan Bedford, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, has faced scrutiny for years of inaccurately claiming a commercial pilot's license, when FAA records confirm he only holds a private pilot license with additional ratings. After the misstatement was revealed, Republic Airways and industry groups removed references to a commercial license from Bedford's biographies, with the Department of Transportation attributing the error to administrative oversight. The controversy comes as the FAA deals with significant staff shortages and recent safety incidents. Bedford's nomination continues despite doubts about his qualifications, and he has faced Congressional questioning over his position on the '1,500-hour rule' for pilot training. The episode has amplified concerns about transparency and standards in U.S. aviation oversight. Neither Bedford nor Republic Airways has publicly commented on the matter.