FAA deputy, 4 other Trump appointees resign over US Capitol violence

The email from FAA chief of staff Angela Stubblefield said 'all our non-career staff members here at FAA' that had been appointed by the US President were resigning

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said late Thursday that five non-career staff members at the agency will resign effective Monday in the wake of the assault on the US Capitol, including the acting No. 2 official.

The email from FAA chief of staff Angela Stubblefield said "all our non-career staff members here at FAA" that had been appointed by US President Donald Trump were resigning.

"Like all of us, they are outraged by the brazen and violent attack on one of the sacred institutions of American democracy," her email added.

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Those resigning are Arjun Garg, chief counsel and current acting deputy FAA administrator, Brianna Manzelli, assistant administrator for communications, Kirk Shaffer, assistant administrator for Airports, Bailey Edwards, assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment, and Andrew Giacini, acting administrator for legislative affairs, the agency confirmed.

The appointees would typically have left on Jan. 20 when President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

The resignations came after US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced her resignation effective Monday.

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FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in a video message Thursday thanked the departing FAA employees "for their extraordinary leadership in this agency, their steadfast focus on safety and their tremendous support that they have given me."

He called the violence at the US Capitol "reprehensible and unpardonable."