Although the attempt to corporatize the nation’s ATC system has been sent to a semi-permanent holding pattern, the criticism of how the FAA has been managing the NextGen project to update the national airspace system continues. The DOT’s Inspector General in a recent report said it received 17 hotline complaints “alleging serious problems and abuse related to the agency’s management of NextGen developmental funds.” One complaint said, “Senior [FAA] leaders promoted an environment of hostility, fear, and reprisal toward those who point out mismanagement.” The IG chose not to discuss this complaint in its recent report “due to pending administrative proceedings and potential litigation.”
DOT Minces No Words in Latest FAA NextGen Audit
Key Takeaways:
- The DOT's Inspector General (IG) issued a harsh report criticizing the FAA's significant mismanagement of NextGen developmental funds, including issues with leadership, accountability, and a hostile environment for whistleblowers.
- The IG found that many projects lacked alignment with high-priority NextGen investments, and the FAA failed to establish effective project oversight, transparency, or a clear framework for evaluating project success.
- The FAA disputed several of the IG's conclusions, including the sample size used for the audit, and only agreed to two of the six recommendations, leaving many critical issues related to transparency and accountability unresolved.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
