NTSB Member Says He Was Fired Without Explanation By The Trump Administration

Todd Inman was a public face in the investigation into last year's collision between an airliner and Army helicopter in Washington.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said he was fired by the Trump administration without explanation. Inman was involved in the investigation of a deadly collision between an airliner and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. last year. The NTSB has seen other high-profile firings under the Trump administration, raising concerns about political interference in the independent agency.

Why it matters

The NTSB is an independent federal agency tasked with investigating major transportation accidents to determine their causes and make safety recommendations. Firings of NTSB members without clear explanations raise concerns about potential political interference in the agency's work, which could undermine public trust in the integrity of accident investigations.

The details

Inman said he received notice on Friday from the White House personnel office that his position on the NTSB was 'terminated effective immediately,' but he had not been given a reason for his firing. The NTSB's website showed only three members, down from the usual five, after the abrupt removal of the board's vice chair, Alvin Brown, last year. Both Brown and another board member, Robert Primus, were the only Black members of their respective independent agencies when they were fired, and have challenged their dismissals in court.

  • Inman was fired on Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • The January 2025 midair collision between a passenger jet and Army helicopter that Inman investigated killed 67 people.
  • Alvin Brown was abruptly removed from the NTSB last year.

The players

Todd Inman

A member of the National Transportation Safety Board who was involved in the investigation of a deadly collision between an airliner and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C. in 2025.

Alvin Brown

The former vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, who was abruptly removed from the board last year.

Robert Primus

A former member of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, who was fired along with Alvin Brown and has challenged the dismissal in court.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose administration fired Todd Inman and other NTSB members.

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What they’re saying

“My only hope is that the NTSB leadership and those who control it stay true to its roots and culture as the preeminent safety organization unimpeded by political or personal agendas.”

— Todd Inman, Former NTSB Member (Associated Press)

What’s next

Inman and the other dismissed NTSB members may pursue legal action to challenge their firings, which could shed more light on the reasons behind the Trump administration's decisions.

The takeaway

The dismissals of NTSB members under the Trump administration raise serious concerns about potential political interference in the agency's independent work, which could undermine public trust in the integrity of accident investigations and transportation safety oversight.