Bryan Bedford Becomes FAA Administrator; Plus 3 More Senate Confirmations
Wells Griffith, Scott Kupor and William Briggs also received Senate approval today.
The U.S. Senate today held recorded votes to confirm four individuals nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the executive branch of government - specifically in the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation as well as the Office of Personnel Management and the Small Business Administration.
In a 54-43 vote, Preston “Wells” Griffith was confirmed as Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure. The position has been vacant since January 2025, when David Crane resigned after serving since June 2023.
Griffith was nominated to this position by Trump in January 2025. During Trump’s first administration, he held various roles - including as Senior Advisor to the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, as Senior Director for Energy and Environment on the National Security Council, and as Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs.
In 2009, Griffith became Executive Director of the Mississippi Republican Party. That was followed by service as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Republican National Committee. In 2013, he ran in the Republican primary for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. However, he finished sixth with 11.0% in the nine-candidate primary.
In a 53-43 vote, Bryan Bedford was confirmed as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The position has been held by an acting official since January 2025, when Michael Whitaker resigned after serving since October 2023.
Bedford was nominated to this position by Trump in March 2025. Since July 1999, he has been President and Chief Executive of Republic Airways Holdings. In August 2021, he became the company’s Chairman.
Bedford began his professional career in 1983 at WestAir Commuter Airlines - becoming financial controller in 1990. From 1995 to 1999, he was President and Chief Executive of Mesaba Airlines. From 1999 to 2014, he was also President, Chairman, and Chief Executive of Chautauqua Airlines.
In a 49-46 vote, Scott Kupor was confirmed as Director of the Office of Personnel Management for a term of four years. The position has been held by two separate acting officials since May 2024, when Kiran Ahuja resigned after serving since June 2021.
Kupor was nominated to this position by Trump in December 2024. In 2009, he was hired by the venture capital firm a16z led by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. From that position, he has been an investor in various Silicon Valley startups. He has had to divest from large swaths of his portfolio to serve in this position within the federal government.
Kupor has already been working within the second Trump administration as a member of the U.S. DOGE Service since January 2025. Previously, he served on the boards of Formation Bio; Talkiatry; Pearl Health; Foursquare; Alice Walton’s Heartland Whole Health Institute; and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In a 49-45 vote, William Briggs was confirmed as the Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration. The position has been vacant since January 2025, when Dilawar Syed resigned after serving since July 2023.
Briggs was nominated to this position by Trump in January 2025. He joined the SBA during the first Trump administration in November 2017 as a Senior Advisor. That stint culminated in him being Acting Associate Administrator of the Office of Capital Access from November 2020 to January 2021.
From 2007 to 2009, Briggs served as Director of the Office of Public Outreach in the Environmental Protection Agency. From 2013 to 2017, he was Director of Political Engagement and Grassroots at Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.