Airport Alert: House Transportation Committee Proposes $15 billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization

House Transportation Committee Proposes $15 Billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization in its Budget Reconciliation Package
April 28, 2025

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will propose $15 billion to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system as part of their scheduled Wednesday markup of budget reconciliation legislation. The anticipated ATC upgrade package will include important funding, including $2.64 billion to replace control towers including contract and sponsor-owned towers, $1 billion for controller staffing, and $500 million for runway safety improvements. The Transportation Committee is planning to release bill text prior to the markup, which is part of the larger congressional reconciliation process moving forward in the House of Representatives this week. AAAE, as a leading member of the Modern Skies Coalition, has joined over 50 aviation organizations to endorse the funding proposal.

The $15b allocation will include the following:

$2.64b for ATC tower and TRACON replacement, including a “no less than” carve out of $240m for Contract Tower Program-operated towers and sponsor-owned towers
$2b for capital investments in the air route traffic control centers (ARTCC)
$3b for radar system replacement
$4.75b for telecom infrastructure replacement
$500m for runway safety and airport surface surveillance systems
$550m for replacement of unstaffed infrastructure and upgrades such as radio towers
$300m for NextGen close-out times such as NOTAM upgrades, DataCom, and PBN
$200m for the Don Young Alaska Safety program
$1b for controller staffing recruitment, retention, training, and technology to further support the full staffing provisions in the FAA reauthorization bill.

The funds will be required to be obligated within five years of passage and can be spent over 10 years. The proposal, including the inclusion of dedicated funding for contract towers, FAA towers, and sponsor-owned towers, would serve as a meaningful investment in modernizing the facilities, staff, and technology of our nation’s aviation system.

What’s Next?
AAAE will provide additional information when the committee officially releases the legislative text. On Wednesday morning, the committee will hold a markup to consider, possibly amend, and approve its budget reconciliation package, which is likely to pass with GOP-only votes due to more controversial proposals related to tax and spending cuts that will ultimately be included in the broader multi-trillion dollar tax and spending package.

The Department of Transportation is expected to release their comprehensive proposal to modernize the ATC system in the coming days. DOT, House, and Senate aviation staff are coordinating in this effort.