US Senate confirms TSA chief, while FAA nominee in limbo

The US Senate voted 77 to 18 on Thursday to confirm David Pekoske to serve another term as head of the TSA, while the FAA nominee is still awaiting a hearing. Pekoske was nominated by former President Donald Trump in 2017 to a five-year term and nominated by President Joe Biden in May to serve a new term. The TSA, created by Congress in November 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks, is responsible for security operations at 430 US airports and is the lead federal agency for security of highways, railroads, mass transit systems and pipelines. In July, Biden nominated Denver International Airport CE Phil Washington, a former Biden Transportation Department transition official to head the FAA. Washington is beginning to hold meetings with members of the Senate Commerce Committee. The job has been vacant since March 31 when Steve Dickson, who was nominated to the position by Trump in 2019, stepped down about halfway through his five-year term. The FAA's top aviation safety official, Billy Nolen, is running the agency on an interim basis.<br/>