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, known for his role as the public face in accident responses like the Washington D.C. midair collision, was abruptly fired by the White House.
No reason was provided for Inman's termination, which occurred two years into his five-year term.
This dismissal follows a pattern of recent White House interventions in NTSB composition, including the prior removal of Vice Chair Alvin Brown, raising concerns about political influence on the independent safety agency.

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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.