Whistleblower Disclosure Highlights FAA Medical Certification Backlogs and Airspace Safety Concerns
May 21, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C./May 21, 2026 – Today, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) notified the President and Congress of a whistleblower disclosure that revealed significant delays in medical certification reviews at the Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM). These delays resulted in hundreds of airmen holding medical certificates who may not have been medically qualified to fly. OSC commends the agency for the remedial actions that it took to correct the problem.
The whistleblower, an FAA Medical Officer, disclosed to OSC that understaffing of FAA medical officers within AAM led to an extraordinary backlog in reviewing medical certificates and clearances for airmen and air traffic controllers. The whistleblower alleged that these delays deterred airmen from disclosing illness, injury, and medications that may affect medical eligibility, and risked a shortage of employees responsible for controlling national airspace.
In response to the whistleblower’s allegations, the FAA’s 2023 investigation of AAM found that medical officers were required to review only 400-600 certificates — or less than 0.01% of the 445,613 medical certificates issued to airline transport pilots, commercial pilots, and private pilots. The FAA also acknowledged that during this period, it prioritized hiring more than 1,500 air traaffic controllers, which led to an increase in medical applications from controller candidates while AAM staffing levels remained stagnant. Although determinations in medical reviews were delayed, the FAA did not attribute the delay to medical officer understaffing and found that the delays did not create a safety risk or danger to public safety.
As a result of its investigation, the FAA hired 26 additional medical officers, increasing staffing to 78 — a 40% increase. The agency also implemented measures to improve the efficiency of medical certification and clearance processes.
The whistleblower expressed appreciation for the improvements made within AAM, also noting that the FAA did not dispute that the delays in reviewing medical certificates flagged for anomalies allowed hundreds of airmen to continue flying who may not have been medically qualified.
“I thank the whistleblower for coming forward and their steadfast commitment to safeguarding the flying public,” said Chief Counsel Charles Baldis. “The disclosure prompted meaningful reforms at the FAA, and the whistleblower’s actions reflect the essential role federal employees play in identifying risks and improving the safety of our nation’s aviation system.”
Given the significance of the whistleblower’s disclosure, OSC recommends that the FAA recognize his contributions to improving the safety of national air space and consider issuing a monetary award to him.