Within 24 hours of Donald Trump starting his second term as US President, he removed Transportation Security Administrator David Pekoske. According to an article by airline industry news site SimpleFlying.com, Pekoske informed his staff that the now-inaugurated United States President told him to step down from his role with immediate effect.
During his tenure, Pekoske, a former official with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCGA), oversaw a workforce of over 60,000 employees at the TSA across 440 airports.
In November 2024, Trump appointed Sean Duffy, a former U.S. Congressman and Fox News contributor, as the Secretary of Transportation. Duffy received approval for the position on January 15, garnering support from both political parties. The incoming secretary, who will succeed Pete Buttigieg, stated that Boeing needs “tough love” to help the company recover. Just days before Buttigieg’s term ended, he announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) was filing a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines due to flight delays.
Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was appointed by Trump in 2018 for an initial one-year term, which has since been extended multiple times. As a result, Homendy will lead the NTSB until at least August 10, 2027. She has not announced whether she plans to resign.
On January 20, Homendy issued a brief statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), congratulating Trump and Vice President, J.D. Vance. She added that the NTSB looks forward to working with the new administration.
