White House says it fired NTSB member over misconduct but Todd Inman denies the allegations

White House Dismisses NTSB Member Amid Allegations of Misconduct

The White House fired National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman last Friday, citing “highly concerning reports” of workplace misconduct, though Inman has vehemently denied the allegations and vowed to fight his dismissal.

Inman, a Republican who was appointed to the NTSB in March 2024 during the Biden administration with a term set to run through 2027, revealed his termination on Sunday. The dismissal came without explanation at the time, according to Inman.

White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the decision on Monday, stating, “The White House lawfully removed Todd Inman from the NTSB after receiving highly concerning reports of inappropriate alcohol use on the job, harassment of staff, misuse of government resources, and failure to attend at least half of NTSB meetings.”

Inman responded forcefully to these allegations, saying in a statement, “I categorically deny the allegations made in the White House statement. It has become increasingly obvious this action was a political hit job.” Though he initially had not planned to take legal action, Inman now says he “looks forward to defending my reputation through all legal means possible.”

The firing marks another shake-up at the crucial safety agency responsible for investigating major transportation accidents across the United States. Inman had played significant roles in several high-profile investigations, including serving as the lead board member at the scene of last year’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., which claimed 67 lives when an airliner collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. He also oversaw the initial investigation into a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky last November that killed 15 people.

The NTSB, which is currently handling more than 1,000 investigations nationwide, has now experienced significant turnover in its leadership ranks. In May, Vice Chair Alvin Brown, a Democrat appointed by President Biden, was also unexpectedly dismissed. These departures have left the normally five-member board operating with just three members, though American Airlines executive John DeLeeuw was recently confirmed by the Senate and will soon join as the fourth member.

By statute, the NTSB is designed to maintain political balance, with three members representing the president’s party and two representing the opposition. With Inman’s dismissal and DeLeeuw’s confirmation, the board will be evenly split 2-2 between Republicans and Democrats, giving President Trump the opportunity to appoint a third Republican to establish a majority.

An NTSB spokesperson emphasized the agency’s commitment to maintaining high standards, stating, “The NTSB’s workforce upholds the highest professional standards, is a responsible guardian of public resources, and safeguards the integrity of its investigations.”

While presidential administrations typically have not interfered with independent agency boards mid-term, the Trump administration has taken an aggressive approach to reshaping federal agencies. Prior to last year, such dismissals were extremely rare, but the current administration has now removed board members from multiple independent agencies including the Federal Reserve Board, Surface Transportation Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission to make way for new appointees.

Some of these dismissals have faced legal challenges. Notably, both Alvin Brown from the NTSB and Robert Primus from the Surface Transportation Board—the only Black board members overseeing their respective independent agencies—were fired last year and have contested their removals in court. The legal services organization Democracy Forward has filed discrimination claims on behalf of both men.

The NTSB plays a critical role in transportation safety in the United States, investigating accidents and issuing recommendations designed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The ongoing leadership changes come at a time when the agency is managing investigations into numerous transportation incidents across the country.