With Friday’s deadline and another partial government shutdown looming over the President’s demand for a border wall, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-4-OR) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen (D-2-WA) introduced a bill to allow for a seamless funding stream for the FAA. Should the legislation pass, agency employee salaries would be paid from the nation’s Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The trust fund currently helps pay for FAA investments in the airport and airway system, such as construction and safety improvements at airports, technological upgrades to the air traffic control system, and FAA operations, including providing air traffic control and conducting safety inspections.
New Legislation Could Fund the FAA During Shutdowns
Key Takeaways:
- Amid a looming government shutdown, H.R. 1108 has been introduced to allow the FAA to use the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to pay employees and maintain full operations, ensuring a seamless funding stream.
- The legislation, backed by various aviation groups including the NBAA, pilots, and air traffic controllers, aims to prevent future shutdowns from negatively impacting aviation safety, as the previous 35-day shutdown did by eroding system layers and stressing the workforce.
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