President Trump’s swift removal of former Vice Chair Alvin Brown from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sends a sharp message to the entrenched bureaucracy left by the Biden administration: mediocrity and entrenched politics will no longer be tolerated. Amid the devastating aviation crisis, Trump once again demonstrates a decisive commitment to putting America first and ensuring genuine accountability in critical government functions.
Brown, a Democratic appointee rushed onto the NTSB by Joe Biden just weeks after his electoral defeat, represents precisely the kind of last-minute politicking Americans have grown to despise. Appointed in December 2024 following the presidential election, Brown’s presence on the board was a clear political maneuver, an attempt by the outgoing administration to safeguard its failed approach to transportation safety and oversight.
President Trump, however, is not one to play along with Washington business-as-usual. As the White House confirmed to Fox News Digital, Brown was officially removed from his position as vice chair this past week. The removal of Brown was abrupt, unprecedented, and entirely necessary. Jeff Guzzetti, a former investigator with both the NTSB and the FAA, admitted to WBAL that he has never before seen a president directly remove a sitting NTSB board member. While such a removal may be unusual, so too is the level of dysfunction our nation currently sees in its aviation sector.
The January aviation disaster at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which tragically claimed 67 American lives, underscores the urgency and necessity of Trump’s decisive action. Trump’s frustration with slow, ineffective government investigations is well-founded. In a February press briefing, the President made his disdain for bureaucratic foot-dragging clear: “We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas. Over the years, I’ve watched as things like this happen and they say, ‘Well, we’re always investigating.’ And then three years later, they announce it.”
The American people deserve better than endless investigations and zero accountability. Trump’s decision to remove Brown signals a broader resolve to tackle systemic issues with bold solutions. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy recently told Fox News that the administration plans to “radically transform the way air traffic control looks” and promised to build a “brand-new air traffic control system.” Details of this transformative plan are expected shortly, underscoring Trump’s determination to ensure aviation safety reforms are swift, effective, and permanent.
The White House’s recent fact sheet highlighting Trump’s efforts to rein in independent agencies further reflects the President’s commitment to returning real oversight and accountability to the executive branch. For far too long, unelected bureaucrats have wielded unchecked power, shielded from real scrutiny or consequences. Trump’s February executive order made clear his intention to restore accountability to the American people, ending decades of bureaucratic indifference.
Brown’s removal is symbolic of a broader battle—a fight to reclaim American institutions from entrenched political interests. The NTSB, tasked with investigating transportation accidents, must be beyond partisan gamesmanship. Brown’s prior roles under Clinton and Gore further reinforce the reality that his appointment was based not on merit, but on political loyalty.
With Brown now out, the NTSB will operate with four members, pending Trump’s new appointee. This action demonstrates Trump’s seriousness about ensuring that critical government positions are filled by qualified individuals committed to safety, efficiency, and transparency—not ideological cronies.
The President’s swift action sends a clear signal that political games, especially those played with American lives, will no longer be tolerated. Trump’s willingness to make unprecedented moves to protect America’s safety and prosperity speaks volumes about his resolve. It is exactly this kind of bold leadership that Americans voted for, and precisely what our nation needs to fully restore faith in our government’s ability to keep its citizens safe.
