Key facts
- The White House withdrew the nomination of Jeffrey Anderson to serve as U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- The Air Line Pilots Association criticized Anderson's nomination, calling him unqualified.
- The U.S. ICAO post has been vacant since July 2022.
- The ICAO sets standards among its 193 member countries.
The White House on Thursday withdrew its nomination of former Delta Air Lines pilot Jeffrey Anderson to serve as U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization after opposition from a major airline pilots' union. The administration of President Donald Trump had nominated Anderson in July 2025, but he never had a confirmation hearing. The White House did not disclose the reasons for the withdrawal, and Anderson did not comment. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents over 79,000 pilots, had previously criticized Anderson's nomination, deeming him unqualified and noting his support for raising the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65. International rules currently prevent pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the U.S. The U.S. ICAO post has been vacant since July 2022, when Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger stepped down. The ICAO sets international standards for air navigation among its 193 member countries. This month, Ukraine urged the ICAO to ask members to ban operations in Russian airspace, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing war.