Typo’s aside, I don’t understand this continued fixation with comparing MARAD to the FAA, as the article calls “it’s sister agency”, with respect to headcount. Comparing 45,000 employees to 800 employees as if the agencies roles were in any way comparable. 14,000 of those are air traffic controllers, with no real US maritime equivalent. Over 10,000 are inspectors or technical roles, which for shipping that’s a CG or Class function and seems well staffed. The FAA oversees over a quarter million aircraft and over half a million licensed pilots. MARAD oversees maybe a couple hundred ships at most, and approximately zero licensed mariners because that’s under the CG’s purview (who’s staffing could admittedly be better).
I don’t know if 800 is the right size for MARAD, but insinuating it’s not enough or neglected because the FAA is so much bigger seems a nonsensical argument.