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 05:00 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:

Aviation organizations (ALPA, NATCA, FAA ATO) are collectively calling for an additional $20 billion to fully complete the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system overhaul.
This additional funding is crucial to finalize the $32 billion modernization plan, which involves replacing aging facilities, deploying modern automation, and enhancing traffic management tools for safety and efficiency.
While $12.5 billion has already been allocated and used for initial upgrades like converting to digital systems and replacing copper wiring, stakeholders emphasize this is merely a "down payment" and the full investment is needed to move beyond piecemeal solutions and support the current overworked controller 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 news conference. “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.”