ALPA, NATCA, FAA Call for $20B to Complete ATC Modernization Push

Officials praise progress made over the last year but say more support from Congress is needed.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 04:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

An air traffic control tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) in New York. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A coalition of aviation groups, including ALPA, NATCA, and the FAA's ATO, is requesting an additional $20 billion to complete the ongoing $32 billion air traffic control (ATC) system overhaul initiated by the Trump administration.
While $12.5 billion has already been appropriated for initial upgrades like replacing copper wiring and converting to digital systems, the full funding is deemed necessary for comprehensive modernization, including new facilities and advanced automation platforms.
The call for full investment is spurred by recent ATC-related incidents and concerns that partial funding leaves controllers working with outdated equipment, exacerbating issues like overwork and mental health challenges among the essential workforce.

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Officials from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) convened at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Tuesday to call for an additional $20 billion to complete the Trump’s administration’s ongoing air traffic co ntrol (ATC) system overhaul.

“DOT and FAA leadership have been clear that finishing this job, replacing hundreds of aging ATC facilities, deploying modern surveillance automation for controllers, and building the traffic management tools our system needs will take an additional $20 billion,” ALPA President Jason Ambrosi said at a press conference at the airshow. “Partial funding isn’t a shortcut. It leaves controllers, our crews on the ground, working with one foot in the old system and one in the new. And that’s a dangerous place to leave the people we depend on most.”