Trump official seeks $50 billion for air traffic control after outage

The Trump administration has increased its demand for funding to overhaul the nation's air traffic control system to $50 billion following a recent communications failure that led to a nationwide groundstop, grounding thousands of flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of a reliable air traffic control system, stating "What's more important than having an air traffic control system that actually works?".

The emergency request comes after the administration's previous proposal of $30.1 billion to upgrade aging airports and air traffic control systems. The Senate Commerce Committee, led by Republicans, highlighted the need for prioritizing modernizing en route centers, noting that Congress had already approved $1.9 billion for this purpose.

The new request aims to allocate $10.1 billion for modernizing the air traffic control system, including $7.2 billion for a common automation platform and controller workstations, and $2 billion for cloud computing. It also seeks $18 billion for airport-related projects, such as modernizing or replacing aging terminals.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently relies on outdated computers and replacement parts sourced through auction websites. Recent incidents, including a midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January 2025 that killed 67 people, have underscored the need for urgent upgrades. The administration has urged the Republican-led Congress to approve the funding in the final weeks of the year, as Democrats are expected to take control of Congress in January.