Trump FAA nominee says agency faces serious leadership, trust issues

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Federal Aviation Administration is harshly critical of the agency, saying it faces serious leadership, trust and culture issues, according to a Senate questionnaire seen by Reuters.

The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday is holding a hearing on Trump's nomination of Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the FAA.

"The lack of steady and qualified leadership helps to explain the lack of any coherent strategy or vision for the agency," Bedford wrote in the questionnaire reviewed by Reuters. "A malaise has set in whereby managers believe the agency is helpless to make the necessary changes, and furthermore, they rationalize it isn’t really their fault."