Cantwell Blasts Republicans Ahead of Vote to Replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, Illegally Fired by Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, slammed Senate Republicans ahead of a vote scheduled for Monday evening on Trump nominee John DeLeeuw to replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, who President Trump unlawfully removed from his position. Vice Chair Brown, who was unanimously approved by the Senate for a term through December 2026, has a pending lawsuit over the removal.

"As my Democratic colleagues and I have made clear, this Committee should not be rewarding President Trump's illegal removal of NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown by rushing to confirm his replacement," Sen. Cantwell said. "This is especially true when Vice Chair Brown's lawsuit challenging his unlawful removal is pending. But unfortunately, my Republican colleagues are doing precisely that-disregarding the significant uncertainty this may create, the dangerous precedent this would set, and the damage this may cause by enabling the White House's power grab."

"The NTSB's critical work to advance public safety hinges on its independence and credibility, neither of which is advanced by confirming a nominee for a vacancy that does not clearly exist under the law," she continued. "I once again call on my Republican colleagues to preserve this Committee's bipartisan tradition and postpone the vote on Vice Chair Brown's replacement while the legal process plays out. It's not too late to do the right thing."

To date, the Administration has refused to nominate a single Democrat to serve on an independent board or commission.

This is not the first time Sen. Cantwell has spoken out on behalf of Vice Chair Brown. Sen. Cantwell led Committee Democrats in a letter to Sen. Cruz and Majority Leader Thune calling foul on their rush to move DeLeeuw's nomination to replace Vice Chair Brown. The Chair moved ahead anyway. Ahead of DeLeeuw's hearing Cantwell said: "The Commerce Committee should not be rushing ahead with a nominee to replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, whom President Trump illegally removed earlier this year. The facts are clear: The Senate unanimously confirmed Vice Chair Brown last year, his term does not expire until the end of next year, and the President removed him without complying with the law. As my colleagues and I wrote to Chairman Cruz and Leader Thune last week, this Committee should not proceed with a nomination to fill Vice Chair Browns's seat until the ongoing litigation is resolved on the merits."

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