The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a government agency that operates under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Therefore, the FAA ultimately reports to the Secretary of Transportation, who is a member of the President's Cabinet. Its primary mission is to ensure the safety of civil aviation within the United States and the surrounding international waters. While it is a regulatory body with significant independence in making safety rules, it is funded by the federal budget approved by Congress. This means the FAA must answer to congressional subcommittees regarding its spending and performance. Additionally, the FAA serves the "public interest," working for the safety of passengers, pilots, and airline employees. While it collaborates heavily with manufacturers like Boeing and airlines like Delta, its legal mandate is to regulate these entities rather than "work for" them, serving as the primary arbiter of airspace safety and pilot certification in the United States.