FAA Loses Five Senior Officials

Five senior officials at the Federal Aviation Administration joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao by resigning in the aftermath of Wednesday’s “unprecedented events” at the Capitol.

The five FAA employees announcing their resignations were Bailey Edwards (assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment); Arjun Garg (acting deputy FAA administrator); Andrew Giacini (acting administrator for legislative affairs); Brianna Manzelli (assistant administrator for communications); and Kirk Shaffer (assistant administrator for airports).

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson praised the staff members for “their extraordinary leadership in this agency, their steadfast focus on safety and their tremendous support that they have given me.”

The resignations are effective this evening (Jan. 11).  As “non-career” appointees, they would have been expected to leave January 20 when the new president is sworn in that day at 12 noon.