WASHINGTON D.C. – During a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) secured commitments from President Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bryan Bedford, to prioritize mitigating delays and safety concerns at Newark Airport and leveraging technology at the FAA to help ensure appropriate drone usage.
The conversation builds off of the Senator’s visits to PHL TRACON and EWR last month to address recent blackouts, outdated technology, and staffing concerns, as well as his calls for transparency from the Trump administration about plans to address these problems.

During the hearing, Senator Kim shared that the FAA has still not acted on a request he made May 21st for a follow-up briefing about his visits. Mr. Bedford committed to working collaboratively with the committee and its senators on issues of such concern to their individual states, and to prioritize managing issues at Newark to alleviate delays.

Senator Kim stated: “In my home state of New Jersey the top issue when it comes to the issues we are talking about here is still about Newark Airport. If you are confirmed, you’d be coming in as we are rapidly building solutions to be able to give assurances to the people of not just New Jersey but around the country, and frankly internationally that are transiting through.”

VIDEO OF FULL QUESTION LINE

Senator Kim also raised the issue surrounding drone usage in New Jersey after public sightings and concerns spiked in December 2024 and his recent conversations with the FAA about leveraging different technologies “to distinguish appropriate versus unauthorized or unsafe use of airspace, especially near critical infrastructure and sites.” Mr. Bedford agreed with the Senator that the FAA plays a critical role to distinguish between concerning and authorized drone usage.

Senator Kim is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sitting on the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, which has jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration and aviation programs within the Department of Transportation.

The Senator also serves on the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Learn more about Senator Kim’s service on behalf of New Jersey here.

###