FLASHBACK: Biden’s First Pick to Lead FAA Was a Total DEI Hire Who Knew Nothing About Aviation

In the wake of the deadly midair collision at Reagan National Airport, it’s important that we reassess our nation’s aviation safety standards. President Trump said on Thursday that safety standards declined under Joe Biden, and let me tell you, he is right.

To illustrate this point, let’s look at his first nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Phil Washington.

During his confirmation hearing, Washington faced significant scrutiny over his lack of knowledge of essential aviation regulations. Washington struggled to provide answers to a series of basic questions that one would expect from someone nominated for the position of FAA administrator. For instance, when asked about the airspace that requires an ADS-B transponder, Washington admitted, “Not sure I can answer that question right now.”

As the questioning continued, Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) pressed Washington on key issues, such as the six types of special use airspace critical to national security that appear on FAA charts, the minimum separation distances for landing and departing airliners during the daytime, and the factors that cause an aircraft to spin or stall.

Washington, acknowledging his lack of expertise, often replied, “Senator, I’m not a pilot.” This admission underscored a troubling disconnect for a nominee expected to oversee the regulatory framework governing aviation safety and operations.

The hearing revealed a nominee who may lack the necessary qualifications to lead an agency responsible for the safety and efficiency of America's air transit system.

The man was unqualified. So why was he nominated? This report from CNN about his nomination will clear that up:

"The White House on Wednesday announced that President Joe Biden is nominating Phil Washington to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. If confirmed, he would be the first Black permanent administrator of the agency."

I listened to a replay of important segments of that confirmation hearing for Phil Washington as the FAA Director under Biden, and I was wholly dumbfounded. I had no idea. Just astonishing.

I have never been of the opinion that someone in a cabinet position needs to know every single aspect of everything involving the Cabinet position they are being nominated to.

For example, I would not expect Pam Bondi to be intimately familiar with every single legal issue under the sun. But while I fully expect her to know how to leverage people under her for things she is unfamiliar with, I would fully expect her to have a strong grasp of the Legal System.

And while I would not expect SecDef Hegseth to understand damage control or navigation on a US Navy vessel, I have the highest confidence he knows how to find those who do, listen to their expertise, and make decisions.

But the level of expertise inherent in those questions asked of Phil Washington as the prospective FAA Director, that was damning. He appeared to have no knowledge of things vital to the aviation industry. It is as if he were being proposed as the Ambassador to Tonga.

Then, I read about Jared Bernstein, nominated as Biden's Chief Economic Adviser, a cabinet position, whose CV looked like this:

Jared Bernstein (born December 26, 1955) is an American government official who is the chair of the United States Council of Economic Advisers. He is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. From 2009 to 2011, Bernstein was the chief economist and economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden in the Obama administration. In 2008, Michael D. Shear described Bernstein as a progressive and "a strong advocate for workers".

In February 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Bernstein to serve as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.[6] He was confirmed to be chair on June 13, 2023. He was ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on July 10, 2023.

He passed the Senate with a 50–49 vote.

Bernstein grew up in a musical family wanting to be a musician, starting a band with friends. Bernstein graduated with a bachelor's degree in music from the Manhattan School of Music where his first double bass teacher was Orin O'Brien. Throughout the '80s, Bernstein was a mainstay on the jazz scene in New York City.[citation needed] He is of Jewish descent.

He also earned a Master of Social Work from Hunter College as well as a Doctor of Social Work in social welfare from Columbia University's school of social work in 1994. At Columbia, his dissertation advisor was Irwin Garfinkel.

This candidate for THIS cabinet position appears to know NOTHING about Economics. He has very little to no formal training in economics. He has a degree in social work.

And in retrospect, looking at the state of economic affairs with this man holding the key position to advise the Biden Administration, one can only come to two possible conclusions: Irwin Garfinkel was wholly inept and unqualified for the job, or he was intentionally put in place to destroy the American Economy.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A NOISE FROM THE DEMOCRAT STINKING, LEFTIST PIE-HOLES ABOUT "UNQUALIFIED CANDIDATES".

I don't disagree with you wholly that it is shifting, but that is not due to the Constitution IMO, it is due to people discarding the Constitution.

I come from a time where an oath means something, and still does to me today.

Particularly with respect to people who served in the military, and now support Democrat policies which are diametrically opposed to the oath we took that says: "...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same..." I view Democrats overall as domestic enemies of the United States. I will certainly argue that with anyone who challenges me on it.

I know I am old fashioned now. But I expect I will not change that view between now and the day I die.

A CEO like position is not always sipposd o know much about the product or service. That’s what he/she has under them. The CEO spends time getting the right type of people in place to be able to inform the CEO what is happening and a suggestion on how to do it right. One person in a cabinet position coming in to lead that area should be acceptable by previous appearance and fill the job description slots. They should have the skills gthe CEO needs.

In the Air Force many years ago, the highest ranking enlisted position was the chief master sargeant (E-9) But the determination of who could be promoted to the rank was so varient that they changed all the job descriptions for them from an air force specialty code (afsc) to a special code just for chiefs (cmc) redefining their job requirements which had now slipped clear into admin. So that chief you got may not be knowledgable in the job, but doesn’t have to as they were transitioned into managers from supervisors. Same with cabinet positions. They don’t need to know the field. Just how to do their work which is to help people do the work. Different need.

wy69

There are areas of difference one may maintain without violating the oath. But practically speaking the oath holds no legal standing or clout.

You cannot advocate innocent bloodshed and be faithful to the oath. You can advocate “tax the rich” and many other absurd notions yet remain largely faithful.

In my estimation the relationship between the Constitution and making America great is mutually supportive, so that those who hold one or the other in contempt are insofar facto unqualified to hold public office.

How did they ever get on the ballot, these people who use their office to undermine? We need a grass roots effort to preemptive their ever taking the oath.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.