Duffy: Up to $20 Billion More Needed to Complete ATC Overhaul

Transportation secretary says work cannot begin until all the funding has been committed.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 02:01 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Air traffic control tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the overhaul of the nation's air traffic control (ATC) system requires an additional $19-20 billion, almost double the initial allocation, and cannot begin until Congress approves this further funding.
Duffy highlighted the critical need to modernize the ATC system, replacing outdated equipment like 40-year-old technology with state-of-the-art tools and infrastructure to improve efficiency and safety.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that his department will need billions of dollars more to launch the ambitious overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system that the Trump administration promised earlier this year.

Speaking at a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) in New Jersey amid the holiday travel rush, Duffy said lawmakers will have to deliver almost double what they have already set aside to fully fund the ATC rebuild.