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

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air traffic control tower at night [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

President Trump's proposed FY2026 budget includes significant funding increases for the FAA, specifically to address air traffic controller shortages and modernize its aging infrastructure.
The FAA faces critical staffing shortfalls, estimated at over 3,000 controllers, and utilizes severely outdated technology, which officials warn could lead to system failures and safety risks.
To combat these issues, the FAA is implementing "supercharged" hiring initiatives, salary increases, and bonus incentives for controllers, alongside multi-billion dollar investments proposed for radar, telecommunications, and facility upgrades.

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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.