Concerns are being raised about the reported Department of Transportation’s (DOT) obstruction of Congress’ investigation into Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approval of the dangerous 737 MAX8 aircraft that was approved to fly following two fatal crashes and an unprecedented grounding for 18 months as the DOT Deputy Secretary faces a confirmation hearing Thursday. Families who lost loved ones in the March 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 MAX8 jet six years ago sent a letter via email to the Senate committee on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, about their concerns and are asking Congress to raise these issues during the upcoming confirmation hearing of the new Deputy DOT Secretary, Steven Bradbury.
Bradbury, who is expected to face questioning Thursday in the Senate as he seeks confirmation as DOT Deputy Secretary, served in the first Trump administration in a variety of roles, including acting deputy secretary of transportation, acting secretary of transportation, and his Senate-confirmed position as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). He was appointed Acting DOT Secretary on January 11 when former DOT Secretary Elaine Chao resigned.
In a letter dated February 17, 2025, families told Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, that Bradbury, Chao, and the FAA allowed Boeing to continue delaying the implementation of an industry safety management system that could have prevented two deadly crashes on the 737 MAX8. They also asked Sen. Cruz to question Bradbury on numerous documents that Boeing still has not provided that were requested by Congress regarding the two deadly crashes.
Families are asking Congress to question Bradbury on these issues as he seeks the second top DOT position at Thursday’s confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Read more.
The families also are asking if Bradbury will support requiring Boeing to keep industry standard quality control staff inspection of manufacturing steps rather than allowing the dangerous practice of manufacturing employees “inspecting” their own work. Boeing has sought and received approval for self-inspection from the FAA.
Further, the families are asking the Senate to ask Bradbury if he will support keeping FAA inspectors on the Boeing production floor rather than approving Boeing aircraft from paper audits at their desks. The families told Congress that delegating safety to Boeing is not the “tough love” promised by current DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn in on January 28. To see the letter submitted by the families, see the attached document.
For further information, contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell) or Pammenaker@cliffordlaw.com