Is the FAA government run?

Since 1967, the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) has been a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation ( DOT ). Formerly known as the Federal Aviation Agency, it became the largest of several agencies within DOT .



Yes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a governmental agency of the United States. Specifically, it is a major operating administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Its primary mission in 2026 remains the regulation and oversight of all aspects of civil aviation within the U.S., as well as the surrounding international waters. This includes certifying airmen and aircraft, managing the National Airspace System, and operating the world's most complex air traffic control system. As a federal agency, its leadership is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and its operations are funded through a combination of federal tax dollars and aviation-related user fees. While some countries have privatized their air traffic control services, the FAA remains a strictly government-run entity focused on safety and national defense integration.

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Since 1967, the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) has been a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation ( DOT ). Formerly known as the Federal Aviation Agency, it became the largest of several agencies within DOT .

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The FAA partners with NASA during these missions and is responsible for public safety through its commercial space licensing process while NASA is responsible for crew safety.

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Birth of Federal Aviation Agency Two months later, on August 23, 1958, the President signed the Federal Aviation Act, which transferred the Civil Aeronautics Authority's functions to a new independent Federal Aviation Agency responsible for civil aviation safety.

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The navigable airspace is a limited national resource that Congress has charged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to administer in the public interest as necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and its efficient use.

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“Even though the FAA would carry out its mission, a government shutdown would set the agency back on critical efforts,” an FAA spokesperson told The Hill. “Even a shutdown for a week would set the agency back a month.”

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In addition to the devastating effect that effectively closing critical federal functions will have on the entire aviation ecosystem, the lapse in FAA authorization will mean that the agency cannot collect taxes: the ticket tax, gas tax, international travel tax, etc – which are estimated at almost $140 million per day ...

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However, FAA does not govern military aircraft. The military has their own rules and regulations, but the military follows FAA regulations when flying in National Airspace.

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Due to mandates, the FAA globally conducts certain functions for safety in and outside of the United States, such as performing air traffic control handoffs and assessing whether a foreign civil aviation authority complies with international aviation standards.

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We operate a network of airport towers, air route traffic control centers, and flight service stations. We develop air traffic rules, assign the use of airspace, and control air traffic.

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The FAA's Office of International Affairs (API) is responsible for providing international coordination and outreach to support the harmonization of global aviation system modernization efforts. This supports the FAA's international mission to promote a safe, secure, seamless, and sustainable global aerospace system.

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Once you get awarded your wings, you can go to the FAA with a printout from your flight records, take a Military Competency test and the FAA will provide you with a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating for the category you trained in (Rotary or Fixed Wing).

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(a) The Chief Counsel, or a Regional Administrator for an aircraft within the region, may issue an order authorizing a State or Federal law enforcement officer or a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector to seize an aircraft that is involved in a violation for which a civil penalty may be imposed on its owner ...

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