Majority Leader | Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSR...Skip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNE×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUFacebookXInstagramFacebookXInstagramVisit Leader Thune's South Dakota Site Here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board12.02.25Republicans Are Making Transportation Safer and More EfficientAfter Years of Atrophy, Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act Makes Critical Investments in Air Traffic Control Infrastructure, Systems, and Technology AMERICA’S AIR TRAVEL SYSTEM IS OUTDATED AND IN NEED OF A MASSIVE TECHNOLOGICAL OVERHAUL“The Federal Aviation Administration's [FAA] air traffic control network's woes have been years in the making.” (Reuters: US air traffic control system failing Americans, airline CEOs say – 5/21/25)In May, “[m]ajor airline CEOs… called on Congress to approve billions of dollars in funding to modernize the United States' aging air traffic control system, saying it is ‘failing Americans.’” (Reuters: US air traffic control system failing Americans, airline CEOs say – 5/21/25)“In a joint letter, the airline executives cited recent failures involving Newark Airport and said the FAA's technology ‘is wildly out of date.’ ‘Aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the U.S., but for it to remain so, serious upgrades need to happen now,’ said the letter, citing a 2023 independent review that raised safety concerns.” (Reuters: US air traffic control system failing Americans, airline CEOs say – 5/21/25)“The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported this year that more than 75 percent of the FAA’s 138 air traffic control systems were deemed ‘unsustainable’ or ‘potentially unsustainable’ in a review prompted by technological issues that led to a 2023 shutdown of all U.S. airspace.” (The Hill: How antiquated tech is adding to the FAA’s problems – 5/6/25)REPUBLICANS’ ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT PROVIDES HISTORIC FUNDING AND UPGRADES TO THE FAA“We actually have to build a brand-new, state of the art, air-traffic control system. We have let this go for far too long.” – Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy“The Federal Aviation Administration will embark on an ambitious three-year plan to modernize America's air traffic control systems and phase out the ‘outdated technologies that are unable to meet’ modern demands.” (NBC News: FAA announces new air traffic control system in hope of taming busy skies – 5/8/25)“The eight-page framework seeks to upgrade the radio systems that controllers use to communicate with pilots, replace copper wiring with fiber optics, digitize flight data management tools and update deteriorating air-traffic control facilities around the country. It also proposes deploying new technologies to Alaska and the Caribbean to provide more accurate weather and surveillance information.” (The New York Times: Transportation Secretary Unveils Plan to Overhaul Aging Air-Traffic Systems – 5/11/25)Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act allocates a total of $12.5 billion “for urgent tech and safety needs at the FAA, like upgrading 1960s-era radar systems, consolidating old and unneeded facilities, and replacing aging and unreliable copper lines with the latest telecommunications technology.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Technology: Commerce Committee Budget Reconciliation Talking Points & Messaging – 7/2/25)The law provides $4.75 billion to transition FAA communications away from 1960s-era copper wire infrastructure to “fiber wire, satellite, and internet telecommunications service,” which “will enhance FAA communications reliability.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Technology: Budget Reconciliation Title Section-by-Section – accessed 12/2/25)The law also directs $3 billion toward replacing more than 600 radars in the “FAA’s radar fleet that detects airborne targets, many of which have been in service for more than double their lifespan.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Technology: Budget Reconciliation Title Section-by-Section – accessed 12/2/25)Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the FAA will also build a new air route traffic control center (ARTCC), none of which has ever been replaced. “With more advanced technology than what was available in the 1960s, the FAA can build newer ARTCCs that rely on better technology and spend less on sustainment of old facilities.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Technology: Budget Reconciliation Title Section-by-Section – accessed 12/2/25)U.S. airlines strongly supported the infusion of funding: “For years, [Airlines for America] has been sounding the alarm about ATC staffing shortages and antiquated equipment, such as copper wires and floppy disks. Given the challenges facing the air traffic system, these funds are a vital down payment on updating the technology that guides 27,000 flights, 2.7 million passengers and 61,000 tons of cargo every day—all while driving five percent of our nation’s GDP.” (White House: The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Endorsements – accessed 12/2/25)THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO MAKING SUBSTANTIAL STRIDES IN HIRING NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, WHICH HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING ISSUE FOR THE FAA“The nation’s air traffic control system has been plagued by years of dysfunction. The controller ranks were depleted by retirements and a cessation in training during the pandemic. Since then, recruiting and certifying new controllers has been difficult. Existing controllers have been fatigued and even sickened by intense stress and long hours.” (The New York Times: How Lost Radar and Silent Radios Have Upended Newark Air Travel – 5/7/25)“A huge share of the country's air traffic control facilities are understaffed, per the most recent FAA data.” (Axios: Air traffic controller shortages are a nationwide problem – 2/10/25)“In 2024, the U.S. had roughly 11,700 certified professional controllers and certified controllers in training, leaving the nation some 4,000 short of the FAA's target staffing level.” (CBS News: The U.S. urgently needs thousands of air traffic controllers. Here's what the job requires. – 11/26/25)“Of 313 total FAA facilities included in the report, only 23 met or exceeded their staffing goal.” (Axios: Air traffic controller shortages are a nationwide problem – 2/10/25)“The FAA hit its hiring target in 2025, bringing in 2,026 new air traffic controllers, according to the agency.” (CBS News: The U.S. urgently needs thousands of air traffic controllers. Here's what the job requires. – 11/26/25)“[T]he FAA has taken unprecedented action to speed up air traffic controller hiring and training. During a supercharged hiring initiative in March, the FAA streamlined the process while qualifying and referring more than 8,320 candidates to the controller aptitude exam. While it previously took more than 13 months from application to admission into the FAA Academy, the best and brightest are already entering.” (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration: FAA Releases Updated Air Traffic Controller, Safety Inspector Hiring Plans – 8/7/25)“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will give $5,000 bonuses to all academy graduates and new hires that complete initial qualification training. Academy graduates assigned to 13 facilities that have faced additional hiring struggles will get $10,000.” (The Hill: Duffy unveils air traffic controller recruitment, retention program – 5/1/25)PrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER THUNEFacebookXInstagram
