Budget Proposal Allots Funding for ATC Hiring, FAA Technology Upgrades

Trump administration aims to ramp up controller hiring while modernizing the facilities and systems they use.

Jack Daleo

Monday, May 05, 2025 at 04:46 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air traffic control tower at night [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

President Trump's proposed FY2026 budget allocates increased funding to the FAA, targeting critical air traffic controller (ATC) shortages and the modernization of obsolete infrastructure.
The U.S. air traffic control system faces significant challenges, including a shortage of over 3,000 controllers and reliance on dangerously outdated technology like floppy disks and copper wires, raising safety concerns.
Solutions include the FAA's "supercharged" hiring efforts with salary increases and bonuses, alongside multi-billion dollar proposals (including a potential $15 billion congressional package) to replace aging systems and build a modern ATC network within 3-4 years.

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Many federal agencies would see their funding cut under President Donald Trump’s recently released discretionary or “skinny” budget request—but not the FAA.

The White House’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget would boost FAA funding aimed at addressing critical air traffic controller (ATC) shortages and modernizing aging infrastructure, which Trump himself has described as “very obsolete.” It would set aside $13.8 billion for FAA operations—a $359 million increase over FY 2025—with an additional $824 million for long-overdue facility and radar upgrades.