We’ve already had the booster both drop in the ocean, both planned and contingent, and be caught. There are not that many other options. Presumably, the drop-in-ocean-on-purpose option is now obsolete. All future launches will be “we’ll catch it, unless we can’t, then abort into the ocean” Nothing new to approve of, there.

Is this all about the Starship? It makes some sense to double-check the abort points and trajectories, but does the FAA have staff who are that skilled?

How broad is their authority? For example, from an “aviation” perspective, a mission that goes up, does one orbit, then comes down is the same as a mission that goes up, does 200 orbits while transferring fuel to a depot, then comes down (assuming the “up” and “down” parts aim toward the same places). Does the FAA have the authority to regulate what’s done out of atmosphere?