EPAS Responds to Withdrawal of Jeffrey Anderson’s ICAO Council Nomination

By GlobeNewswire

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Experienced Pilots Advancing Safety (EPAS) issued a statement following the withdrawal of Jeffrey Anderson’s nomination to represent the United States on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the rank of ambassador.

The White House formally withdrew Anderson’s nomination on September 17, according to official White House and U.S. Senate records. Anderson had been nominated to the ICAO Council post and was awaiting Senate consideration. 

EPAS said the withdrawal raises broader questions about how aviation experience, policy disagreements, and professional qualifications are weighed when candidates are considered for international aviation leadership roles.

Anderson is a former U.S. Naval Aviator, retired Delta Air Lines captain, and former Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) representative. ALPA publicly opposed his nomination and urged the Senate to reject it, citing concerns about his qualifications and his support for raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots.

EPAS said policy disagreements should be considered separately from a candidate’s broader professional record and aviation experience.

“Experienced aviation professionals can disagree on retirement-age policy, workforce planning, medical certification, and other issues,” the EPAS Leadership Team said. “Those differences should be evaluated on their merits while also considering a nominee’s full record of service and operational experience.”

The ICAO Council plays a central role in international aviation standards, safety, security, and air-navigation policy. EPAS said the organization believes U.S. representation at ICAO should reflect a strong understanding of commercial aviation operations, safety systems, and international aviation policy.

The White House did not publicly state the reason for withdrawing Anderson’s nomination. Reuters reported that Anderson’s nomination had faced opposition from ALPA and that he had not received a Senate confirmation hearing before the withdrawal.

EPAS said it hopes the next nominee for the ICAO Council position will be evaluated through a process that considers aviation experience, professional qualifications, safety expertise, and the United States’ role in international aviation.

“Our focus is not on one policy disagreement,” the EPAS Leadership Team said. “It is on ensuring that experienced aviation professionals receive a fair and complete evaluation when they are considered for positions that affect U.S. aviation leadership and international safety policy.”

About EPAS

Experienced Pilots Advancing Safety (EPAS) is an aviation-safety advocacy organization focused on evidence-based policies involving pilot experience, medical fitness, training, proficiency, and operational safety. EPAS supports policies intended to preserve institutional knowledge and promote aviation safety throughout pilots’ professional careers.


Captain James Riehl (Retired)Experienced Pilots Advancing Safety (EPAS)1-202-470-5597GovtAffairs@EPASpilot.orgwww.EPASpilot.org

Capital.com is an execution-only brokerage platform and the content provided on the Capital.com website is intended for informational purposes only and should not be regarded as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the products or securities to which it applies. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.

The information provided does not constitute investment advice nor take into account the individual financial circumstances or objectives of any investor. Any information that may be provided relating to past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or performance.

To the extent permitted by law, in no event shall Capital.com (or any affiliate or employee) have any liability for any loss arising from the use of the information provided. Any person acting on the information does so entirely at their own risk.

Any information which could be construed as “investment research” has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication.