Q: Why did you launch a congressional inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing?

A: Iowans know I take my oversight responsibilities seriously to ensure the federal government is serving the American people effectively and efficiently. For example, during the Obama administration my investigative inquiry into the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program exposed overpayments for EpiPens, a life-saving medication used to treat a severe allergic reaction. My oversight efforts pulled back the curtain on sloppy work by the federal bureaucracy that failed the American taxpayer to the tune of more than $1 billion and ultimately led to the passage of a new law to fix the problems my investigation exposed. From rooting out wasteful spending to ensuring the food and drug supply is safe, congressional oversight is essential to curb wrongdoing, protect taxpayers, uphold public safety and strengthen the rule of law. For example, the American public must have confidence the federal agencies entrusted to implement border security, enforce criminal, patent and tax laws, protect cybersecurity and critical infrastructure and monitor transportation safety are doing a robust job for the public good. This brings me to my most recent oversight work looking into the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing, the global aerospace manufacturer.

Let’s start with the FAA, the federal agency that oversees aviation safety, manages commercial airspace, operates air traffic control systems and enforces regulations for the manufacturing and operations of aircraft. Air travel has resumed to its pre-pandemic levels as Americans are taking to the skies more than ever. It’s no wonder the recent mid-air emergency in January involving a Boeing-made aircraft, in which a door panel blew out on a new Alaska Airlines jet and forced an emergency landing, has elevated concerns about aviation safety. The issue brings to mind my work 25 years ago when I led an investigation of TWA Flight 800. The Boeing 747 exploded and crashed 12 minutes after taking off on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 people on board. As then-chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts, I convened a congressional hearing to examine how federal agencies handled the investigation of TWA Flight 800. This followed my two-year review looking into the matter that showed flawed decision-making by FBI leadership allowed conspiracy theories to circulate and suppressed critical public safety information from getting to the proper authorities. It also exposed Boeing delayed sharing a critical safety report to the National Transportation Safety Board for nearly 20 years. If that report about problems associated with center fuel tanks had been shared earlier, it’s possible safety regulations might have been in place to avoid the 1996 crash. My investigation underscored over-reporting is better than under-reporting when it comes to aviation safety. That includes among federal agencies and the military and civilian divisions in aerospace manufacturing.

Q: What issues are top of mind in your current investigation?

A: My decades of oversight work have made clear transparency brings accountability. In addition, whistleblowers are indispensable to shedding light on wrongdoing. That’s why I push for whistleblower protections to empower people who are on the front lines in government and industry to report problems without fear of reprisal. As we work to strengthen aviation safety, it’s vital to learn from past mistakes. Boeing is given great responsibility to build the planes Americans rely on every day. And yet, it has a history of aircraft disasters. Tragically, a pair of Boeing 737 Max fatal crashes within five months in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. What’s more, the FAA has provided “grossly insufficient oversight,” according to one congressional investigation, while another found an air carrier exerted “improper influence” on the FAA. A cozy relationship between industry and the federal agency reviewing its regulatory compliance calls into question the integrity of the FAA’s mission. The American people deserve to have confidence the FAA provides independent, effective oversight so that negligence, cost-cutting and a mismanaged safety culture in the aviation industry is not allowed to put the traveling public at risk. Simply put, I’m working to ensure the FAA is not asleep at the switch. In my letters to the FAA and Boeing, I want an explanation about how the door panel of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft could blow off midflight and what steps are being taken to ensure effective safety management. I asked Administrator Whitaker to address quality control issues, whistleblower policies and documentation practices, among other issues, to improve accountability and prevent close calls from happening again. There’s no excuse for lax oversight by the FAA or a lax safety culture at Boeing. American lives are at stake. As a taxpayer watchdog, I’m also demanding accountability on behalf of the American taxpayer. Boeing benefits from the public purse in loan guarantees, government contracts and tax incentives that run into the billions of dollars. The FAA ought to do the job taxpayers are paying the agency to do. I’ll continue pushing for answers so Americans don’t have to second guess aviation safety when they board their next flight.

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican, represents Iowa.