Trump’s FAA pick Bryan Bedford busted for lie about his pilot qualifications

According to a detailed report by Politico journalist Oriana Pawlyk, Bedford—currently the CEO of Republic Airways Holdings—has repeatedly claimed to hold a commercial pilot license, a higher level of aviation certification typically required for professional airline pilots. However, official FAA records reviewed by the outlet indicate that no such commercial credentials exist for Bedford.

In company materials, including his executive biography on Republic Airways’ website, Bedford was described as holding “commercial, multi-engine and instrument ratings.”

Yet FAA records do not list him as holding a commercial license of any kind. In fact, Politico confirmed that he only holds a private pilot license, a more basic certification that does not authorize a pilot to fly for compensation or hire.

The report also notes that after Politico made inquiries, the contested language regarding Bedford’s qualifications was quietly removed from the Republic Airways website. Internet archives show that similar claims about Bedford’s commercial certification had appeared in his executive bio dating back at least to 2010, as preserved by the Wayback Machine.

In response to the growing controversy, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a statement defending the nominee. The department said that Bedford had passed both the written and oral examinations required for commercial pilot certification but stopped short of actually obtaining the license.

The DOT further asserted that Bedford “never misrepresented his credential,” framing the incident as an “administrative error” that was promptly corrected once discovered.

Nonetheless, questions remain. Bedford has not personally responded to media inquiries about the matter, and the White House has deferred all comments to the DOT. Despite the clarification, the issue raises concerns at a time when the FAA is already under intense public scrutiny due to a series of recent aviation safety and oversight failures.

The revelation could pose a significant obstacle for Bedford’s confirmation process, as it brings into question both his professional transparency and the vetting procedures of the Trump-aligned camp backing his nomination.

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As of now, it remains to be seen whether this controversy will derail his appointment or simply serve as another flashpoint in the already contentious landscape of federal agency leadership.