FAA has not examined use of airports to house migrants
- Cities have been scrambling to house migrants
- Whitaker noted that the FAA only regulates areas behind security
- Congressman demanded the agency review the practice
FILE – A Federal Aviation Administration sign hangs in the tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport, March 16, 2017, in New York. The Senate voted 98-0 to approve Michael Whitaker, President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, ending a span of nearly 19 months in which the agency was without a Senate-confirmed chief. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
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(NewsNation) — The Federal Aviation Administration has not performed a detailed audit into the practice of using airports to house migrants.
During a Congressional hearing, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker responded to questions regarding the use of airports to house migrants, noting that he has not deeply investigated the issue.
Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., pushed Whitaker on a statement that only one airport had been approved for housing migrants.
“To my knowledge, there was only one application,” Whitaker said. “To my understanding, applications are only involved if it’s behind security.”
Whitaker noted the FAA doesn’t have authority over what airports do with privately owned property outside of secure areas.
“The FAA does not operate airports. A municipality or state government may work with an airport to seek permission from the FAA to allow temporary use of airport property for non-aviation purposes,” an FAA spokesperson said in a statement. “In cases where FAA approval to do this is required, a number of objective factors are considered, including safety and whether the property might be needed for aviation-related purposes. If approved, the requestor is responsible for all costs associated with the operation, including security.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., also pushed Whitaker on the issue, stating he felt it was an inappropriate use.
“Safety is our number one issue, it was never meant for housing,” he said of the airport in his state.
Van Drew asked Whitaker to commit to drill down on the issue with details about how many airports are being used as housing for undocumented people.
“We don’t own the airports,” Whitaker reiterated.
Van Drew also asked Whitaker to issue a policy from the FAA regarding the use of airports for migrant housing.
