Safety Starts at the Top Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill targets only the very largest aviation manufacturers, those with at least $15 billion in annual revenue, a threshold that in practice mainly captures Boeing among current U.S. aircraft makers with self-certification authority.
• Those companies would be required to put two labor union representatives, including one from the union representing workers who design and build the aircraft, plus two independent aerospace safety experts on their board of directors.
• Companies that refuse to add these board members would lose their authority to certify their own aircraft as safe, shifting that inspection work to federal regulators, which would likely slow down their operations.
• The FAA would have 90 days after the law takes effect to review all existing self-certification holders and strip authority from any company that does not comply.