FAA chief fails to sell Republic shares in violation of ethics agreement, senator says

Source: Reuters

December 16, 2025 7:51 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said he had not divested his shares in Republic Airways (RJET.O) but he would continue to recuse himself from issues that could impact the airline's finances as he works to sell his holdings, according to a letter made public on Tuesday.

Last week, Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, who previously served as CEO of Republic, was in violation of his ethics agreement after he had not completed the sale of the shares despite agreeing to divest his holdings within 90 days of his confirmation in July.

Bedford told Cantwell in a letter dated Monday he had recused himself from matters that had a direct effect on Republic's financial interests and was working to sell the shares "as soon as reasonably practicable."

At the time of his confirmation, Bedford reported holding stock in Republic worth between $6 million and $30 million. On November 25, Republic completed a merger with Mesa Air Group. A Transportation Department lawyer told the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) in a December 5 email that Bedford had been unable to complete the sale given "significant demands on his time and personal commitments."

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/faa-chief-says-he-has-not-completed-sale-his-shares-republic-airways-2025-12-17/