ARLINGTON, Virginia — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, major airlines, and aviation unions urged Congress on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, to approve $30 billion in new funding for air traffic control and airport upgrades. The proposal, introduced by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) on behalf of the Trump administration, seeks to modernize software, replace aging towers, and improve cybersecurity across the national aviation system. The request comes as federal officials and industry groups cited a need for increased capacity and improved technology following recent service disruptions.
This request follows a $12.5 billion funding package approved by Congress in June 2025 intended for air traffic control upgrades and controller hiring. That previous legislation was prompted by ongoing reports of airport congestion and flight delays, as well as a January 2025 mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that resulted in 67 deaths. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford stated the week of Sept. 22, 2026, that the first phase of modernization is expected to cost $16 billion, exceeding the initial 2025 allocation.
The $30 billion request is divided into three primary categories: $10 billion for replacing air traffic control towers, $10 billion for telecommunications and technical systems, and $10 billion for airport facility improvements. According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report from earlier in September, the estimated cost for telecommunications upgrades has risen from $4.75 billion to $5.91 billion. Additionally, $7.2 billion is earmarked for expanding a software system using predictive analytics that the FAA began utilizing during the week of Sept. 21, 2026.
For travelers, the impact of these funds would be noticed through the replacement of copper-wire telecommunications systems, which Administrator Bedford aims to complete by September 2027. The administration stated that this transition, alongside terminal expansions at medium-sized airports, is intended to reduce flight delays and cancellations like those that recently paralyzed East Coast traffic during a major telecommunications failure. Students and professionals in the aviation sector would see this funding reflected in the hiring of new controllers and the implementation of software-based flight management tools.
The approval of these funds would set a precedent for how the federal government manages technology transitions within the FAA. If passed, the money will support cybersecurity hardening to protect flight data and the expansion of terminal capacity to relieve pressure on major hubs. The proposal currently awaits action in Congress; no specific vote date has been set, but Secretary Duffy and industry groups are calling for a quick approval to meet the September 2027 modernization goals.
FAA Administrator Bedford stated that the agency plans to bridge current funding gaps using its existing facilities and equipment budget while awaiting congressional action. The Department of Transportation maintains that the targeted terminal expansions at medium-sized airports are a primary strategy for reducing overall network congestion. Secretary Duffy acknowledged at a press conference on Monday that previous reform efforts had not fully succeeded, stating the administration's intent to "finish the job" with this new capital injection.