Cantwell has repeatedly raised concerns about the Trump administration’s removal of NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown last year. (Jim Watson/Pool via Associated Press)
February 3, 2026 1:51 PM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- The Senate Commerce Committee approved several Trump administration nominees for transportation and commerce roles.
- Ryan McCormack and Daniel Edwards emphasized safety and fiscal discipline in their committee questionnaires.
- Democrats opposed NTSB nominee John DeLeeuw due to concerns about the removal of Vice Chair Alvin Brown.
WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee easily approved nominees for senior transportation roles in the Trump administration on Feb. 3.
The Republican-led Senate will be next to consider the nominees who, if confirmed, would join Secretary Sean Duffy’s leadership team at the Department of Transportation. These nominees include Ryan McCormack to serve as undersecretary of transportation for policy.
McCormack emphasized his focus on reducing highway fatalities in the nation’s intricate system of commuter and freight corridors. Responding to a questionnaire from the committee, the nominee wrote, “I will identify and support innovative technologies, smarter infrastructure and common-sense policies that make our roads safer.”
For the past several years, federal data has determined that more than 40,000 individuals have died annually in vehicle-related crashes.
Senators also confirmed Daniel Edwards to become an assistant secretary of transportation. A commitment to ensuring budget discipline sits atop his priorities. In a separate questionnaire, Edwards affirmed, “It is my responsibility to be a steward of taxpayer resources in the execution of my role. This of course requires that internal controls and business practices operate at maximum efficiency in a waste-free culture grounded in execution and accountability for results.”
Other nominees advanced by the committee included Steven Haines to be the assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis, Robert Harvey to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission, and John DeLeeuw for a spot on the independent National Transportation Safety Board.
DeLeeuw, a managing director of safety and efficiency at American Airlines, was nominated for the board last year. Responding to the committee’s questionnaire, the NTSB nominee detailed his assignment if confirmed by the Senate. Pointing to the agency, DeLeeuw said: “Its mission is to investigate accidents and incidents in all modes of transportation; issue safety recommendations and advocate for implementation of those recommendations; conduct safety studies to address … transportation safety issues; provide assistance to families and victims of transportation accidents; and review appeals of enforcement actions and certificate denials of the Federal Aviation Administration and United States Coast Guard.”
“If confirmed,” he went on, “I will abide by the legislative mandate of the NTSB and exercise proper management and accounting controls, in coordination with the chairwoman and board members, to regularly evaluate and ensure the effectiveness and accountability of the agency.”
Democrats on the panel opposed his nomination, citing the Trump administration’s removal of NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown last year. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the committee’s ranking member, has repeatedly raised concerns about Brown’s removal. “We don’t support replacing the current NTSB agency with new [appointments],” the ranking member said at the Feb. 3 markup.
In questions directed at DeLeeuw before the hearing, Cantwell asked him if he would “commit to stepping aside swiftly” in a scenario in which Brown would be reinstated on the board. DeLeeuw responded, “I would consult with legal counsel and comply with all court orders.”
In December, Cantwell took aim at the panel’s process: “As my Democratic colleagues and I have made clear, this committee should not be rewarding President [Donald] Trump’s illegal removal of NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown by rushing to confirm his replacement.”
Before that, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had strongly endorsed the NTSB nominee. “DeLeeuw will draw on his extensive aviation safety background to investigate accidents and propose recommendations to prevent future harm,” Cruz said in November, adding: “He is — without a doubt — one of the most decorated and qualified individuals to come before us. His resume is a perfect match for the NTSB.”
