FAA Administrator Pushes Back on Watchdog’s ATC Modernization Report

Air traffic control effort seeks to replace, upgrade, and introduce new physical and digital infrastructure.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Tuesday that he wanted to "correct the record" on the GAO's report. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The GAO criticized the FAA's Brand New ATC System (BNATCS) modernization effort, citing a lack of comprehensive cost estimates and master schedules, which could lead to overruns and delays similar to past failed initiatives.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford disputed some GAO findings, asserting that cost estimates and schedules exist, but conceded that Phase 1 of BNATCS is projected to exceed its initial congressional funding and may face schedule pressures.
Both the GAO and FAA agree on the critical need to modernize over 75% of the agency's "unsustainable" air traffic control systems to prevent future flight disruptions and ensure airspace resilience.

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FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Tuesday that he wanted to “correct the record” on a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that alleged the agency’s air traffic control modernization effort may face cost overruns, schedule delays, and unmet goals.

The GAO report, published Monday, claimed that the FAA lacks a lifecycle cost estimate or master schedule for its Brand New ATC System (BNATCS) program. Over two phases, BNATCS seeks to replace outdated, decades-old infrastructure and introduce new automated capabilities to improve safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System (NAS).