FAA Organizational Overhaul Begins

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford have unveiled an overhaul of the FAA’s organizational structure.

The re-organization — called the largest in the agency’s history — includes the creation of a new safety oversight office. This office, which was supported by Congress in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization, will implement a single safety management system (SMS) and risk management strategy for the entire FAA.

Now, instead of different safety metrics siloed in individual offices, the agency will be able to share safety data more freely, FAA officials said.

Other key changes include:

• Launching an Airspace Modernization office to oversee the installation of a new air traffic control system.
• Creating a new Advanced Aviation Technologies office to oversee the integration of drones, eVTOLs, and other advanced air mobility vehicles into the airspace.
• Shifting more key leadership posts to permanent positions.
• Consolidating the management of finance, IT, and human resource divisions under the administrator.

The restructuring will not result in any layoffs, FAA officials noted.

“It’s important that we have the right people in the right places to do the best work possible,” said Bedford. “These actions will put permanent leaders in place who embrace innovation, share safety data and insights freely, and are focused on deploying a brand-new air traffic control system all while integrating key innovation technologies into the new National Airspace System (NAS).”

The new organizational structure includes:

• The Administration and Finance Office will include the Office of Finance and Management; the Office of Information and Technology; and the Office of Human Resource Management.
• The Policy and Legal Office will oversee strategic policy, legal, stakeholder engagement, and financial assistance functions. It will also include the agency’s rulemaking and regulatory office, as authorized by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
• The Airspace Modernization Office, required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, will be responsible for modernizing the National Airspace System (NAS), including planning, research and development, systems engineering, and portfolio management.
• The Air Traffic Organization will continue providing the most efficient air navigation services in the world
• The Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) Organization will lead an agency-wide safety management system by centralizing safety management activities previously conducted in five separate lines of business.
• The Office of Advanced Aviation Technologies will be tasked with integrating Advanced Air Mobility, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and Supersonic aircraft, among other emerging technologies in United States.
• The Office of Commercial Space Transportation will continue regulating the U.S. commercial space transportation industry.
• The Security and Intelligence Organization will continue conducting security and intelligence activities.
• The Aviation Safety Oversight and Certification Organization will continue the safety oversight and certification activities of the former Aviation Safety Organization.

For more information: FAA.gov