NTSB Member Says He Was Fired by White House

Abrupt dismissal came with no advance notice or explanation.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 09:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

J. Todd Inman at an NTSB press conference [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

NTSB member J. Todd Inman, who was the public face for the agency's response to a fatal midair collision over Washington, D.C., was abruptly fired by the White House, two years into his five-year term, without any reason provided.
Inman's dismissal follows the previous abrupt removal of NTSB vice chair Alvin Brown and is considered unusual by aviation experts, who note a lack of recent precedent for such direct presidential intervention in the independent agency.
Inman expressed gratitude to NTSB staff and investigators, hoping the agency's leadership remains true to its roots as a preeminent safety organization "unimpeded by political or personal agendas."

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A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member who became the public face of the agency’s response to the fatal midair collision over Washington, D.C., last year was apparently fired by the White House late last week.

In a statement, J. Todd Inman said he received notice from the White House Presidential Personnel Office on Friday that his position was “terminated effective immediately.” The notice was conveyed on behalf of President Donald Trump, Inman said.