The leader of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced his plans to resign from his position effective January 20.

Mike Whitaker, who was appointed in October 2023, mentioned in a statement that he will not complete his full five-year term, but he did not specify the reasons behind his decision.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as the Administrator of the FAA alongside this amazing team. The U.S. boasts the safest and most intricate airspace globally, thanks to our dedication to ensuring the public’s flight safety,” he stated. “This role has presented the most rewarding and demanding experiences of my career. I want you to know directly that my time will conclude on January 20, 2025.”

The FAA had been without a permanent administrator from April 2022 until Whitaker took over in October 2023.

Mark House, currently the FAA’s Assistant Administrator for Finance and Management, will serve as Acting Deputy Administrator until a new head is appointed by President-elect Trump.

The incoming leader will face several critical challenges, particularly regarding ongoing oversight of Boeing and the urgent need to increase the number of air traffic controllers.

During his time at the FAA, Whitaker has been actively urging Boeing to address various quality control problems in its production facilities, leading to restricted output from the company due to heightened supervision.

Additionally, staffing shortages among air traffic control personnel have been a significant issue for air travel within the United States, especially in high-traffic areas, such as the northeast, New York, and parts of Florida. Airline leaders have criticized the FAA for flight delays and enforced reductions in operations in certain regions, although the agency has made recent efforts to improve staffing levels.