Modern Skies Coalition Backs Transportation Bill

Legislation would increase FAA funding by $1.5 billion.

Zach Vasile

Friday, January 23, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

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

Key Takeaways:

The Modern Skies Coalition, a group of aerospace manufacturers, trade associations, and labor unions, is urging Congress to pass the FY 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill.
This bill proposes to increase the FAA's budget to $22.2 billion to modernize the nation's airspace and prevent future government shutdowns.
Key allocations include $10.3 billion for air traffic control (ATC) operations to hire approximately 2,500 new controllers and $4 billion for FAA facilities and equipment upgrades.
The coalition supports the bill to enhance aviation safety and address critical staffing and infrastructure needs within the FAA and ATC system.

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A coalition of aerospace manufacturers, trade associations, and labor unions focused on modernizing the nation’s airspace is throwing its support behind a transportation appropriations bill in Congress that would increase funding for the FAA and the air traffic control (ATC) system.

According to a summary released by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026 would grow the FAA’s budget by $1.5 billion to around $22.2 billion. $10.3 billion would be used to fund ATC operations and hire about 2,500 controllers to replace the retiring workforce.