The Safety Starts at the Top Act of 2026 modifies federal aviation safety rules by adding new leadership requirements for large aircraft manufacturers that hold special FAA authorizations. Companies with annual revenues of at least fifteen billion dollars must now include on their boards of directors two representatives from labor unions representing workers involved in aircraft design and manufacturing, plus two members with proven aerospace safety expertise and demonstrated safety accomplishments. The FAA has 90 days from enactment to review all existing manufacturers holding these special authorizations and revoke any that fail to meet the new board composition requirements. The bill targets large defense and commercial aircraft manufacturers and aims to strengthen safety oversight by giving workers and safety experts a formal voice in board-level decisions. No specific funding is allocated in the legislation, as the changes primarily affect governance structure rather than creating new programs or expenses.
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