More than 45,000 commercial flights work in the US airspace every day. It is one of the largest, busiest and most complex aviation systems in the world, and we increase the requirements and add pressure every day.
Yet our airspace runs on outdated technology and outdated equipment in facilities that are decades old and deteriorate. Add to that, the system needs around 3,000 more certified controllers to meet today’s demand.
Unless the congress acts with urgency, the National AirSpace System (NAS) will lag further at a time when we experience an increased demand for air travel and an increased dependence on air freight shipments.
Sec Sean Duffy: ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ is a down payment on a new, much -needed air traffic control system
The Senate has a crucial opportunity to be part of the solution and to act on provisions included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. The house has already taken an important step by going through the bill, including $ 12.5 billion for the FAA.
A view of Newark airport as travelers are confronted with eight consecutive days of massive delays, the cancellation of routes and staff shortages in Newark, New Jersey, United States, on 6 May 2025. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty images)
This financing is crucial. But from the point of view of daily operations, and from the perspective of the people who actually let this system run, it is still not enough.
Transport secretary Sean Duffy has called that financing a good “deposit”. Last week, at a press conference in San Diego, he said: “We need a lot more money, but this is the only vehicle that we have to start now. To be honest, I hope that the congress will find more money. … They have the opportunity to find extra resources and place it in this mission.”
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Earlier in June he said he would like the legislators to assign $ 20 billion as a first step.
Much of the infrastructure of the FAA has not been updated in decades. Some facilities are still performed on analog radar, copper wiring, mechanical switches, floppy discs and paper strips that follow flights in some air traffic control facilities.
It is not uncommon for essential components to be patched together or from eBay come from. This is not sustainable.
The system is under pressure, but it is held together by the dedication of its workforce.
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Yet 41% of the certified controllers work six days a week of 10 hours as a result of shortages. Site sites such as the New York Tracon, which is currently handling the airspace around JFK and Laguardia airports, have been working on barely half of their authorized staff on the same time since 2023.
By increasing the reward for interns and streamlining the recruitment pipeline, the Ministry of Transport has already helped refer more than 8,000 candidates to the FAA APTITUDE exam.
The Senate has a crucial opportunity to be part of the solution and to act on provisions included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. The house has already taken an important step by going through the bill, including $ 12.5 billion for the FAA.
That is much more than previous cycles, which retained less than 10% of applicants and trainees. The Duffy team has also taken serious steps to modernize facilities and digitize key systems, to replace radar of the First World War and outdated paper strip technology with digital alternatives.
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But none of these reforms can continue without the US Senate. During his confirmation hearing, FAA -nominated Bryan Bedford supported Duffy’s assessment that the $ 12.5 billion in the house account is well too short of what is needed to stabilize the system.
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The Modern Skies Coalition, consisting of more than 50 aviation organizations, estimates that it will cost at least $ 31 billion to implement Duffy’s plan. Without that financing, Bedford will warn that upgrades of equipment will be continued for years, and the breakdowns of the system will become more frequent.
We have the chance to change course. If the Senate increases the financing obligation of the house – or even the gap closes with a supplementary package – we can start building a system that is able to meet modern demand.
Our controllers are trained professionals. They are ready. But nobody can do this work without the right tools and support.
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The $ 12.5 billion in the house account is a good first step. As Duffy said: “This is the most important infrastructure project that we have done in decades and it must be fully financed.”
The Senate must end the job – not only for the integrity of the system, but also for the people who make that system safe every day.
