Duffy: ATC Hiring Push Attracts 6,000 Applicants

Program ‘has been wildly successful’ in recruiting air traffic control trainees, transportation secretary says.

Jack Daleo

Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says 6,000 people have applied to become air traffic controllers since a new application went live on Friday. [Credit: U.S. Department of Transportation]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's new recruitment strategy, specifically targeting gamers to address a chronic shortage of over 3,500 air traffic controllers, has shown early success by attracting 6,000 applicants in one day.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted that gamers possess valuable skills like multitasking, problem-solving, and cognitive functioning, which are highly relevant to the demanding ATC profession.
The FAA plans to onboard thousands of new trainees, with targets including 2,200 in fiscal year 2026 and a recruitment goal of 8,900 ATCs by FY2028, though expected losses will significantly reduce the net gain.
Despite the strong initial interest, challenges persist due to the demanding job conditions caused by current shortages and a historical 30% attrition rate at the ATC Academy.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday that the FAA’s latest air traffic control (ATC) hiring push—targeting gamers—is paying early dividends in addressing a chronic shortage of more than 3,500 controllers.

Speaking at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, D.C., Duffy said 6,000 people have applied to become ATCs since the FAA opened a new hiring portal at midnight on Friday. The portal will close on April 27, or earlier if the number of applicants hits 8,000.