No DOGE Cuts at NTSB, Chair Says

Jennifer Homendy testifies to a House committee that recent workforce reductions did not impact the agency.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 12:33 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy at a hearing [Courtesy: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has successfully retained its staff of 427 employees despite broader federal workforce downsizing efforts.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy testified that this retention was due to securing hiring exemptions and administrative support, preventing the loss of probationary employees.
The agency manages a significant workload, including nearly 1,250 active accident investigations across the U.S. and supporting investigations overseas.
Despite maintaining its current workforce, the NTSB aims to reach 485-500 employees and has requested additional funding for fiscal year 2026.

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Despite a rapid push to downsize the federal workforce, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday testified at a House Appropriations Committee hearing that her agency has retained its staff.

The NTSB currently has 427 employees, said Homendy, who has chaired the safety board since 2021. Its workload includes almost 1,250 active accident investigations in all 50 states, along with Puerto Rico. The agency also supports accident investigations overseas.