NHTSA Acting Administrator to Step Down
Heidi King’s last day as acting administrator of the regulatory agency will be Aug. 31. She will be replaced by James Owens, the U.S. DOT’s deputy general counsel.

Heidi King’s last day as acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be Aug. 31. Photo courtesy NHTSA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Heidi King, the acting administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is reportedly stepping down.
Aug. 31 will be King’s last day in the position, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) confirmed to SBF. King will be replaced by James Owens, the regulatory agency’s deputy general counsel.
As SBF previously reported, King was chosen by President Trump to lead the NHTSA in April 2018, after more than a year passed without a top official heading up the agency. King was already holding a leadership position at NHTSA, having served as deputy administrator since September 2017. The agency’s previous administrator was Mark Rosekind, an Obama appointee whose tenure ended before Trump took office in January 2017.
King narrowly cleared the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which voted 14-13 to approve her nomination in June 2018, as SBF previously reported. However, her nomination wasn’t yet voted on by the full Senate, according to The Washington Post.
King had also served as chief economist for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and as a regulatory policy analyst in the White House’s Office of Management and Budget from 1998 to 2000 and from 2007 to 2011. Through those positions, she became familiar with NHTSA and its work on Corporate Average Fuel Economy, according to her official NHTSA bio.
In other U.S. DOT personnel news, General Counsel Steven Bradbury has been named acting deputy secretary of the agency in addition to his current duties, effective immediately. Additionally, Christina Aizcorbe, the senior counselor for regulatory reform, has been named deputy general counsel of the U.S. DOT.
More Safety

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
