Lawmakers approved sweeping reforms in legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump that boosts FAA oversight of aircraft manufacturers, requires disclosure of critical safety information and provide new whistleblower protections.

Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican who chairs the Commerce Committee, said in an opinion piece Monday the law “will take steps to protect against manufacturers placing undue pressure on employees during the certification process”.

Wicker added the law “should help restore the safety culture in the FAA”.

An FAA survey released in August found some safety employees reported facing “strong” external pressure from industry and raised alarms the agency does not always prioritise air safety.

This might have been ok if planes had not been dropping from the sky, which forced the FAA lifted the 20-month grounding of the 737 MAX last month.

Boeing, which faces an ongoing criminal investigation into the MAX, has not commented on the new law.

The law repeals rules allowing FAA employees to receive bonuses or other financial incentive based on meeting manufacturer-driven certification schedules or quotas.