The White House and the Department of Transportation have renewed their call for Congress to approve $30.1bn in ATC funding and airport infrastructure spending, according to AVweb and Airways Magazine. The request covers everything from new control towers to terminal rebuilds at medium-hub airports.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought co-signed a letter to lawmakers setting out the case, AVweb and Airways Magazine report. Their joint statement frames the ask in direct terms: "This investment is critical to complete the modernization of our national airspace, delivering a resilient telecommunications backbone for air traffic controllers, modern hardware and software, state-of-the-art control towers, and world-class airport infrastructure."
A Renewal, Not a New Request
AVweb reports that this proposal renews an earlier request first announced in September, rather than adding a further $30bn on top of previously sought funding. The distinction matters: Congress has already moved on part of the picture. Lawmakers approved $12.5bn for ATC modernisation in July 2025, according to AVweb and Airways Magazine. If the new $30.1bn request also clears, AVweb reports the combined total would reach roughly $42.6bn.
AVweb also reports that Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) introduced the Modern Skies Act on 28 September to legislate the earlier proposal, giving it a formal legislative vehicle in the Senate.
For readers tracking how the US is approaching its long-running infrastructure backlog, our Airline Search tool is a useful way to follow the carriers most exposed to ATC delays and capacity constraints.
How the $30.1bn in ATC Funding Would Be Split
The request divides into two broad pools. Some $10.1bn is earmarked for ATC technology, with $7.2bn of that allocated to a common automation platform and updated controller workstations, according to AVweb and Airways Magazine. A further $2bn within the ATC envelope would fund cloud computing and telecommunications infrastructure, and $2bn more would go towards control tower replacement or improvement at facilities across the country.
The remaining $18bn targets airport-related projects, AVweb and Airways Magazine confirm. Within that sum, $10bn is set aside specifically for terminal modernisation at up to three qualifying medium-hub airports.
The Telecoms Upgrade Already Under Way
The funding request arrives against a backdrop of work already in progress. The FAA has converted around 68% of its legacy copper telecoms network to high-speed fibre, according to AVweb and Airways Magazine. The administration is making the case that the remaining gap, and the broader technology refresh, requires a step-change in Congressional commitment rather than incremental annual appropriations.
The fibre conversion figure is worth noting because it sets a floor: a substantial share of the network has already been modernised, and the new request is designed to complete and extend that work rather than start from scratch.
What This Means for US Aviation
The scale of the ask reflects how far the US ATC system has fallen behind in both hardware and software. Controller workstations and the automation platforms behind them are ageing, and the case for a common platform across facilities has been made by industry and regulators alike for years.
Airport terminals at medium-hub airports often receive less attention than the flagship projects at major international gateways, so the $10bn ring-fenced for that tier is a notable commitment. Whether Congress acts on this renewed request, and how quickly, will shape the near-term trajectory of American aviation infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
The administration has restated a substantial, specific funding request and put senior signatures behind it. The ask is not new money announced on top of existing commitments, as AVweb makes clear, but a formal renewal aimed at keeping Congressional attention on a package that has yet to be fully legislated. With $12.5bn already approved in July, the remaining $30.1bn is the larger and harder part of the equation. The coming months will show whether the Modern Skies Act and this renewed letter move the needle on Capitol Hill.
This article draws on reporting by AVweb and Airways Magazine.
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