Senior White House officials confirmed to CBS News by White House officials have been fired from the vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Commission, appointed by President Joe Biden to the post late last year.
The expulsion of Alvin Brown took place on Tuesday. Brown, the first Democrat to be elected the first African American in Jacksonville, Florida, was appointed vice-chairman by Biden in December. Brown joined the five-member board meeting in early 2024 and was sworn on the same day as Republican Todd Inman, who was also appointed by Biden.
The NTSB is an independent body with board members appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve a five-year term. The President designates the Chairman and Vice-Chair for three years in these roles. The Speaker will need to confirm another Senate.
Brown's firing is in the other Trump administration fired Other Democrats from independent bodies, including the Federal Trade Commission. National Labor Relations Committee.
Bryan Olin Dozier/Anadolu via Getty Images
The move led the NTSB to be appointed President Trump during his first term, along with four board members (Chairman Inman and Jennifer Homendy, Michael Graham and Thomas Chapman). Homedy has been appointed chairman of the board by Biden.
The NTSB investigates all fatal and common aviation accidents, including commercial accidents and incidents, as well as serious accidents across a variety of transport modes and pipeline accidents. The board does not have regulatory authorities. Instead, we will determine the possible causes of these accidents and make safety recommendations to avoid similar accidents in the future.
The board is currently investigating many aviation accidents, including January. A fatal air collision Multiple fatal small through Washington DC plane crash And last year blow out Alaska Airlines door panel mid flight.
The NTSB declined to comment and directed the White House to inquire.
Brown's departure was first reported by Reuters.
I contributed to this report.
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