The nomination of Steven Bradbury as Deputy Secretary of Transportation has led to a division among Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The discussions have focused on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) actions during the Boeing 737 MAX crisis in 2018 and 2019.
Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, expressed concerns about Bradbury’s past role at the DOT during Donald Trump’s administration. She highlighted that after the fatal Lion Air 737 MAX crash in October 2018, Bradbury’s policies halted an aviation safety rule advocated by crash victim families. “He sidelined a proposed requirement that plane manufacturers must adopt a mandatory Safety Management System (SMS),” Cantwell stated.
During the hearing, Cantwell questioned why the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under DOT, did not thoroughly review Boeing following the crash. Bradbury agreed on the need for strong SMS with accountability. “With real penalties, and we need to be tougher on Boeing,” he said.
Cantwell also criticized Bradbury for impeding investigations into the 737 MAX crashes by withholding information. She introduced legislation in Congress called the ‘FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2024.’
Bradbury described the crisis as “an agonizing period” and supported grounding the 737 MAX. He mentioned assisting Elaine Chao, then Secretary of Transportation, in monitoring FAA actions.
Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, endorsed Bradbury’s nomination, citing his qualifications and experience at DOT. Cruz noted that Bradbury had been General Counsel and briefly Acting Secretary of Transportation.
Since leaving DOT, Bradbury has been involved with public policy issues related to regulatory authorities at DOT. He is also a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation.
Cruz emphasized Bradbury’s cost-saving track record at DOT and his potential contribution to government efficiency under the Trump administration. This includes visits by Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to FAA facilities.
Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of FAA, confirmed that DOGE would provide solutions to challenges faced by the National Airspace System (NAS).
