Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was fired by the Trump administration without explanation. According to multiple sources, Inman received notice on Friday from the White House personnel office that his position was terminated effective immediately.
Key Takeaways
Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was fired by the Trump administration without explanation. The White House cited allegations of drinking on the job and harassing staff, which Inman denies. He plans to fight back legally.
- Todd Inman, an NTSB member, was fired by the Trump administration over misconduct allegations.
- Inman denies the claims and believes it is a political hit job.
- The firing follows similar removals of other board members from independent agencies.
- Inman had been involved in investigating major aviation incidents, including a midair collision near Washington D.C. that resulted in 67 fatalities.
The White House said it removed Inman after reports of drinking on the job and harassing staff, but Inman flatly denied these allegations Monday and said he plans to fight back. The Trump administration believes the firing is justified due to 'inappropriate alcohol use on the job, harassment of staff, misuse of government resources, and failure to attend at least half of NTSB meetings.' Inman categorically denies these claims and has stated that this action was a political hit job.
Inman had been a public face in investigating two major aviation incidents: last year's crash of a UPS cargo plane in Kentucky that killed 15 people and the January 2025 midair collision between an airliner and an Army helicopter near Washington D.C. that resulted in 67 fatalities.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from multiple news outlets, including The Associated Press and Reuters. Inman's removal was reflected on the NTSB website, which showed only three members remaining out of a typical five-person board.
This firing follows the abrupt removal of Alvin Brown, the NTSB vice chair, last year. Both Brown and Robert Primus, who served on the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, were the only Black board members overseeing their respective independent agencies when they were fired. They have challenged their firings in court, with Democracy Forward filing discrimination claims on behalf of the men.
Inman praised the NTSB staff and investigators as 'world class' in his statement. He expressed hope that the NTSB leadership would stay true to its mission of safety without being impeded by political or personal agendas.
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