White House and DOT Request $30.1 Billion for Airport and Air Traffic Control Upgrades
The White House and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have formally requested Congress to approve an additional $30.1 billion to modernize the United States' airports and air traffic control (ATC) system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought sent a letter to lawmakers, emphasizing the critical need for this investment to complete the modernization of the national airspace. The proposed funding includes $7.2 billion for a common automation platform and controller workstations, $2 billion for cloud computing, and another $2 billion to replace and improve Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control towers. Additionally, $18 billion is earmarked for airport-related projects, with $10 billion specifically for modernizing or replacing aging terminals. This request follows a previous congressional approval of $12.5 billion over five years in July 2025 for ATC upgrades and increased controller hiring, which was prompted by concerns over ...
