Overview
- In testimony on the 2025 DCA midair that killed 67, Homendy said the FAA ignored years of warnings and described a culture that left employees afraid to brief investigators.
- She rejected any exemptions from ADS-B in congested airspace and stressed that low-cost ADS-B In gives pilots earlier, life‑saving traffic awareness.
- Senators from both parties urged the House to pass the ROTOR Act to carry out NTSB’s ADS‑B recommendation and strengthen oversight of mixed‑use airspace.
- The bill would require most aircraft already subject to ADS‑B Out to equip and use ADS‑B In by 2031 and would limit when government aircraft can disable ADS‑B transmissions.
- Lawmakers flagged a new defense‑authorization provision that could let military flights avoid consistent ADS‑B broadcasts near D.C.; Cruz said the ROTOR Act would repeal it.