Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has continued his barrage of criticism against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), alleging a lack of aviation expertise within the agency’s leadership. His latest target is Polly Trottenberg, the United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation, whom Musk claims lacks the necessary background in aviation or space. However, it’s important to note that Trottenberg is no longer the acting administrator of the FAA.
Musk, through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), questioned whether the head of an organization responsible for regulating the safety of airplanes and rockets should be unfamiliar with their operation. While Trottenberg did serve as the acting administrator for a few months in 2023, she was replaced by Michael Whitaker in October. Whitaker, in contrast to Musk’s critique, possesses a strong aviation background. Prior to his appointment as FAA administrator, he served as the chief operating officer at Supernal, a Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Whitaker is also a private pilot and has previous experience working for United Airlines.
This latest criticism comes as Musk has been vocal about his frustration with the FAA’s handling of SpaceX’s ambitious Starship launch vehicle. He blamed the agency for delays in conducting test flights, stating on Thursday that the Starship is ready for flight but awaiting FAA approval. Musk also accused the FAA of displaying bias towards Boeing, pointing to a proposed fine of $633,009 levied against SpaceX for regulatory violations on Tuesday. He argued that the FAA’s resources are being misallocated, focusing on minor issues with SpaceX while neglecting significant safety concerns with Boeing.
SpaceX has also taken its concerns to Congress, sending a letter to key members, including Rep. Frank Lucas, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Sen. Maria Cantwell. In the letter, SpaceX denies the FAA’s allegations of regulatory violations and further accuses the federal agency of lacking sufficient resources to effectively review commercial spaceflight licensing operations.
As the SpaceX-FAA conflict continues, it remains to be seen how the agency will respond to Musk’s ongoing criticism and the company’s accusations of bias and inadequate resources. This situation highlights the complexities of regulating the rapidly evolving space industry, with significant implications for the future of space exploration.
