The Latest From Washington
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Issues Emergency Order Restricting Air Carrier Operations at 40 Airports
FAA issues an emergency order requiring air carriers to reduce their total daily scheduled domestic operations by 10 percent at 40 different “high impact airports.”
11/06/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: DOT and FAA to Reduce Capacity and Operations at 40 Airports
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that effective 11/7, the FAA will begin to reduce capacity by 10 percent at 40 “high traffic” airports unless a deal is reached to end the government shutdown.
11/06/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: DOT and FAA Leaders Announce 10 Percent Reductions in Capacity at 40 High Traffic Airports Beginning Friday
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that effective Friday, the FAA in coordination with airlines will begin to reduce capacity by 10 percent at 40 “high traffic” airports.
11/05/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Senate Committee Hears from Three Transportation Nominees
The Senate Commerce Committee holds a nomination hearing to consider three transportation nominees including Daniel Edwards, the President’s pick to serve as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs.
11/05/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: Federal Court Vacates Immigration Enforcement Provision in DOT/FAA Grant Agreements
A judge from the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island issued an order and permanent injunction in an ongoing case, declaring unlawful the “immigration enforcement condition” (IEC) that has been included in federal grant funding agreements from DOT and FAA since April.
11/04/2025
Security Alert
Security Policy Alert: TSA Issues Security Directive 1542-04-08Y
TSA has once again updated the Security Directive 1542-04-08 series, Security Threat Assessment and Reporting Requirements Related to Individuals with Airport-Issued ID Media. Version Y, effective October 31, 2025.
11/04/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: DOT Indicates EAS Funding Available Through November 18
In a notice issued this afternoon, the DOT indicated that it has secured additional funding to support the Essential Air Service and Alternative Essential Air Service programs and maintain subsidy and grant reimbursements through November 18.
10/29/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases FY26 Allocations for Airport Infrastructure Grant Program
The FAA released $2.89 billion in FY26 allocations under the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program, which provides $15 billion for airport infrastructure upgrades over five years and was created by Congress through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
10/27/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Announces Daniel Edwards as Associate Administrator for Airports
The FAA announced Daniel J. Edwards as the agency’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Airports.
10/22/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Good News on Amendments Limiting Airport Ability to Set and Collect User Fees
We have good news to report this morning from the Senate Commerce Committee, where Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has withdrawn three troubling amendments that were aimed at limit the ability of airports to utilize ADS-B technology for the collection of appropriate, reasonable, and necessary user fees.
10/21/2025
Airport Alert
Action Alert: Help Needed Immediately to Defeat Amendment Limiting Airport Ability to Set and Collect User Fees
As we noted in an earlier Alert, the Senate Commerce Committee next Tuesday, October 21, is scheduled to consider legislation known as the ROTOR Act that was introduced in the wake of the tragic January accident at DCA to establish new requirements for the utilization of ADS-B technology by virtually all aircraft and helicopters.
10/17/2025
Airport Alert
Action Alert Update: Help Needed Immediately to Defeat Amendment Limiting Airport Ability to Set and Collect User Fees
Following up on our Action Alert from earlier today, we have learned that Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has filed three amendments with the Senate Commerce Committee that, if adopted, would limit the use of ADS-B technology by airports for reasonable and necessary user fee collections.
10/17/2025
Security Alert
Security Policy Alert: TSA Suspends EDSE Requirement for Aviation Worker Screening
In an “industry security awareness message” posted to HSIN today, TSA states that covered airport operators may pause their implementation of aviation worker screening measures with future implementation dates, such as the Explosives Detection Screening Equipment (EDSE) requirements, until further notice.
10/16/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Committee Scheduled to Review ADS-B-Related ROTOR Act Next Week — Legislation Limiting Use of ADS-B Data for Fee Collection May Be Considered
Next Tuesday October 21, the Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider legislation known as the ROTOR Act that would establish new requirements for the utilization of ADS-B technology by virtually all aircraft and helicopters.
10/15/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: DOT Amends Earlier EAS Notice, Indicating Funding Available Through November 2
DOT amends its earlier notice to indicate that additional funding has been secured to support the Essential Air Service and Alternative Essential Air Service programs and maintain subsidy and grant reimbursements through November 2.
10/08/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: DOT Secretary Says Essential Air Service Funds Will Run Out During Shutdown
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Essential Air Service (EAS) program funds will run out as soon as Sunday and not be restored until Congress passes legislation to fund the government.
10/06/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: DOT Publishes Interim Final Rule to Update DBE and ACDBE Programs
DOT publishes an interim final rule that makes significant changes to the regulations governing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program.
10/03/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: DOT Releases Interim Final Rule to Update DBE and ACDBE Programs
DOT releases an interim final rule that makes significant changes to the regulations governing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program.
10/01/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Again Rejects Proposals to Fund the Government
The Senate today again rejected two competing short-term continuing resolutions to temporarily fund the federal government.
10/01/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Government Shutdown: Expected Impacts on FAA, TSA, and CBP
Barring a last-minute and unlikely agreement between congressional leaders, the federal government is set to shut down at midnight, impacting FAA, TSA and CBP.
09/30/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Rejects Two Proposals to Fund Federal Government
With a government shutdown just hours away, the Senate late today rejected two short-term continuing resolutions to keep the federal government operating – one proposed by Republicans and one by Democrats.
09/30/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases $437 Million in FY25 AIP Grants for Projects at Over 29 Airports
FAA releases a list of over $437 million in infrastructure grant awards as part of the fiscal year 2025 Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
09/24/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases $1.3 Billion in FY25 AIP Grants for Projects at Over 250 Airports
FAA releases a list of nearly $1.3 billion in infrastructure grant awards as part of the fiscal year 2025 Airport Improvement Program.
09/18/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: EPA to Maintain Biden-era Designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances
The EPA announced that the agency will retain a Biden-era rule that designated two PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), known as the Superfund law.
09/17/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Announces New eVTOL Integration Pilot Program
FAA announces the creation of a new program, known as the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program.
09/12/2025
