Why It Matters

The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on June 24, 2026, to consider five nominations spanning transportation safety and consumer protection agencies. The hearing examined whether nominees aligned with the Trump administration's approach to regulatory efficiency and staffing critical federal posts after recent leadership changes.

The Big Picture

The nominations reflected the administration's push to fill vacancies created by departures and restructuring at key agencies. Three Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) commissioners were removed in 2025, leaving the agency in flux. The CPSC had drawn controversy over enforcement approaches, including a Biden-appointed commissioner's claims that gas stoves posed unacceptable hazards. The administration sought to reset the agency's direction with new Republican nominees.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) nomination represented a second-term bid for an incumbent. The Surface Transportation Board nominee sought reappointment to a position overseeing railroad economic activity. The Transportation Department's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role required someone to manage a budget exceeding one hundred billion dollars annually.

Who's Being Considered

The hearing examined nominations for Thomas B. Chapman to the National Transportation Safety Board, Edward Eppler as Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Transportation (DOT), Karen Jean Hedlund to the Surface Transportation Board, and Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions as Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Chapman, from Maryland, sought another term on the independent agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents and issuing safety recommendations. He had been nominated during the 116th Congress.

Eppler, from Connecticut, brought three decades of aviation industry experience. He served as the global head of aerospace and defense at Goldman Sachs and most recently as CFO of Beta Technologies in Vermont. When he joined Beta Technologies, the company was valued at one billion dollars. By his departure, it had reached seven billion dollars in valuation. Beta Technologies is on track to have 2,000 employees by the end of 2027. Eppler's nomination was originally sent to the Senate on January 13, 2026, after being returned to the President under Senate Rule XXXI on January 3, 2026.

Hedlund, from New York, had served on the Surface Transportation Board since 2022 and sought reappointment for a term expiring December 31, 2030. She spent more than 30 years in private practice as a bond attorney and consultant advising state governments on transportation infrastructure projects. She previously served as the Federal Railroad Administration's deputy administrator and the Federal Highway Administration's chief counsel.

Lorenze, from Virginia, currently serves as the CPSC's executive director. He has worked in data analytics and held senior positions in government. He works with acting chairman Peter Feldman to implement a data-first approach to enforcement at the CPSC.

Sessions, from Texas, currently serves as a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Transportation. She served in the first Trump administration as a senior appointee at the Millennium Challenge Corporation. She has worked in management roles in the telecommunication industry and has held elected office in Florida. The White House nominated her in February 2026 as a CPSC Commissioner.

The Commerce Committee Hearing Proceedings

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, presided over the hearing. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) served as Ranking Member. The hearing was classified as a general hearing type in the 119th Congress.

Eppler emphasized his commitment to the transportation sector's future. He committed to working collaboratively with members of the Senate Commerce Committee to ensure the nation's highest priority transportation goals are met. He also committed to focusing his office on accelerating project delivery and ensuring robust financial oversight.

As CFO of Beta Technologies, Eppler managed budget development and execution, oversaw financial performance, ensured robust financial reporting and adherence to internal controls, and led capital raising initiatives. His experience gave him a firsthand look at the advanced air mobility industry and technological, regulatory, and global competitive shifts impacting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and DOT. He has spent nearly 30 years working in New York and four of the past five years living and working in Vermont. Eppler is an instrument-rated private pilot.

Hedlund testified at the hearing on her background and qualifications for another term on the Surface Transportation Board, which regulates railroad economic activity.

Chapman appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee for consideration of another term on the NTSB.

Political Stakes

Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman issued a formal statement welcoming the Lorenze nomination. The administration added Lorenze as a paired nominee with Sessions to accelerate the path to a quorum, signaling urgency in restoring full leadership to the commission.

For Eppler, the Transportation Department CFO role represented a significant responsibility overseeing federal transportation spending and policy implementation. His Wall Street background and aerospace expertise positioned him as aligned with the administration's emphasis on private-sector efficiency and deregulation.

Hedlund's reappointment would continue her influence over railroad regulation. As the Surface Transportation Board oversees the economic aspects of railroads, including rail mergers, her tenure carried implications for freight transportation and rail industry consolidation.

Chapman's second-term nomination suggested confidence in his performance on the NTSB, the independent agency investigating transportation accidents.

The Bottom Line

The June 24 Senate Commerce Committee hearing reflected the administration's effort to reshape federal transportation and consumer safety agencies with nominees aligned to its regulatory philosophy and operational priorities.

The hearing marked the first step in the Senate confirmation process The Commerce Committee would need to vote on advancing the nominations to the full Senate. Subsequent floor votes would determine whether each nominee receives confirmation. The CPSC nominations faced particular attention given the agency's staffing challenges and the administration's policy priorities.

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