We brag about American exceptionalism yet seek to diminish it in part of our government. Curious. 

Case in point, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), part of the Department of Transportation. The FAA's role in all things having to do with air safety has been the gold standard worldwide for years. The Boeing 737 Max crashed and U.S. government response has called that leadership into question. 

The air worthiness role, ensuring that commercial aircraft are safe, has been diluted in recent years at the behest of the aircraft manufacturing industry. Evidently inspections leading to certification have devolved from an FAA role to a shared responsibility with the aircraft manufacturer. They are in effect passing judgement on their own work. 

While in any complex system requiring rigorous testing, it is obvious that there needs to be separation of responsibility and a clearly defined path to approval. Normally in validated systems, the developer tests extensively then passes the baton to the final authority (e.g., the FAA) for their own rigorous testing before certification. Mixing or combining roles saves money short term but can lead to disastrous consequences. 

The FAA needs to be restored to its original role, not diminished further.

Peter Storm

Waterford