President Biden's first pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration was a disastrous choice when it came to possessing actual knowledge about aviation and regulations.
In 2023, Biden nominated Phillip Washington, CEO of the Denver International Airport. Washington eventually withdrew his nomination after being subjected to questioning from senators like Ted Budd (R- N.C.), who revealed that Democrats may not have been focusing on merit when it came to who leads the country's airspace.
Footage of those exchanges has resurfaced following the disaster at Reagan National Airport in which an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a passenger plane. The collision killed 67 people.
'I'm not a pilot.'
With the country concerned about the hiring practices of the FAA, the video of Budd questioning Washington showed just how unqualified the nominee was for a position as important as director of the FAA.
"What are the six types of special-use airspace that protect this national security that appear on FAA charts?" Budd asked Washington at a confirmation hearing.
"Sorry, Senator. I cannot answer that question," Washington replied.
Budd repeatedly asked other aviation questions: "Okay. So what are the operational limitations of a pilot flying under basic med?"
"Senator, I'm not a pilot. So ..." Washington answered.