Sen. Cantwell Says FAA Chief Bryan Bedford Violated Ethics Deal by Failing to Divest Airline Stock

Senator Maria Cantwell said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford failed to divest his substantial equity in Republic Airways Holdings by the deadline required under his ethics agreement, raising concerns about compliance following his transition from the airline to the federal agency.

• Cantwell’s letter states Bedford retained between $6 million and $30 million in Republic equity months after the agreed divestiture deadline.
• Republic merged with Mesa Air Group in November, potentially increasing the value of Bedford’s holdings.
• On Oct. 7, Bedford submitted a filing saying he had not yet completed divestiture and requested additional time.
• The Office of Government Ethics denied Bedford’s amendment request, saying it “did not meet the standard” for approval.
• OGE told lawmakers it has not been notified that Bedford divested and reiterated his obligation to avoid conflicts of interest.
• A periodic transaction report filed Nov. 27, 2025 showed Bedford sold $50,001–$100,000 of Alaska Air Group stock on Aug. 7, 2025.
• Bedford’s original nominee filing listed significant airline-related assets requiring divestment.

Relevant Companies

• Alaska Air Group ($ALK) — Bedford's August 2025 sale of ALK shares was disclosed in federal filings.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.