Trump Choice Complicating FAA Administrator Nomination

President Donald Trump’s continued promotion of his personal pilot John Dunkin as the next FAA administrator is apparently the underlying cause of the lengthy delay in nominating a new administrator.

President Donald Trump's continued promotion of his personal pilot John Dunkin as the next FAA administrator is apparently the underlying cause of the lengthy delay in nominating a new administrator. And according to Politico and The Daily Beast it's frustrating congressional members on both sides on the aisle because a mutually acceptable candidate is already on the job. The publications say it's generally felt that Acting Administrator Dan Elwell would face little opposition in the nomination process, especially since he's been doing the job since Michael Huerta left in January. But Dunkin's presence is apparently forcing a stalemate.

Politico's analysis says the nomination of Dunkin would likely result in a protracted and polarized nomination battle in the Senate, something the Republicans don't want heading into the midterm election. But Trump, who first proposed Dunkin for the job in the spring, is reportedly still lobbying for the nomination. The Daily Beast is suggesting the strategy now is to try to wait out Trump and leave things as they are until he loses interest. In the meantime, it would appear the first multiyear reauthorization of the agency in years is poised to pass and the lack of a confirmed administrator does not seem to be hindering any of the agency's work.