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National Transportation Safety Board
Independent agenciesFor-cause removal
At a glance
Type
Independent agencies
Removal of leadership
Removable only for cause
Appointed by
Members appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate
Structure
5-member commission · led by the Chairman
Term
5-year term · staggered · party-balanced
Funding
Annual appropriations
Independence
Independent
Statute (49 U.S.C. 1111) permits removal of a member only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. In May 2025 the Trump administration removed confirmed member and Vice Chairman Alvin Brown without citing cause; Brown sued (Democracy Forward) and the administration is arguing the for-cause protection is unconstitutional. The protection is contested in ongoing litigation as of 2026.
What it does
The NTSB is an independent federal board that investigates civil aviation accidents and significant accidents in railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline transportation. It determines probable cause and issues non-binding safety recommendations to regulators and industry, but it cannot make rules or impose penalties. Its five members serve fixed 5-year terms, and the agency operates separately from the Department of Transportation, whose programs it often scrutinizes.
TransportationSafetyScience
How it fits
Created by Congress under the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-633, codified at 49 U.S.C. ch. 11 (esp. 49 U.S.C. 1111)), it acts within the authority that statute grants. Its actions are subject to judicial review and to congressional oversight and funding.
Recent actions
Office of the Managing Director: Chief Data Officer; Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2030 Strategic Plan
Office of the Managing Director: Chief Data Officer; Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Strategic Plan; Correction
Office of the Managing Director: Chief Data Officer; Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Strategic Plan
Investigative Hearing
Sunshine Act Meeting
Sunshine Act Meeting
SES Performance Review Board
Sunshine Act Meetings