FAA Unveils Workforce Plan to Address Air Traffic Controller Shortage and Modernize Infrastructure
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a comprehensive plan to address the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers across the United States. This initiative, known as the 2026-2028 Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, aims to hire thousands of new controllers and modernize scheduling systems to prevent employee overwork. The plan is a response to complaints from air traffic controllers about long working hours, exacerbated by a prolonged government shutdown. The FAA currently employs approximately 11,000 controllers across more than 300 facilities, with an additional 4,000 in training. The agency's goal is to reach a staffing target of 12,563 certified professional controllers. To achieve this, the FAA plans to hire 2,200 new controllers in fiscal year 2026, 2,300 in 2027, and 2,400 in 2028. The plan also includes upgrading infrastructure by replacing outdated technology with a fully digital network system. 
