The Air Current
Will Guisbond
17 Feb 2026
Bedford’s 20-year stint as a hard-charging CEO unaccustomed to taking orders has often conflicted with Duffy’s desire to entrench himself in the day-to-day running of the FAA, according to over two dozen people interviewed for this story, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss internal FAA operations and policymaking. Many of them told The Air Current that this challenging dynamic between Bedford and Duffy hit a “low point” during the historic 43-day government shutdown that began in October 2025, when aviation became a central leverage point for the White House and Congress as air traffic controller absences and subsequent flight delays placed the FAA in the national spotlight.
Although there are indications that the relationship between Duffy and Bedford has improved, their clashes exacerbated a year of turmoil and intense change at the U.S. aviation regulator, which has been plagued by a staff exodus and low morale. All of the current FAA employees who spoke with TAC said they were considering leaving the agency or had plans to do so soon.
