Duffy: Up to $20 Billion More Needed to Complete ATC Overhaul

Transportation secretary says work cannot begin until all the funding has been committed.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 02:01 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Air traffic control tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that an additional $19-20 billion is required to complete the ambitious overhaul of the national air traffic control (ATC) system, nearly doubling the $12.5 billion already allocated.
The modernization project aims to replace severely outdated technology, such as 40-year-old floppy discs and limited ground radar, with state-of-the-art telecommunications, surveillance, and automation systems.
While officials reassured travelers of smooth operations during the holiday season, the full ATC modernization cannot commence until Congress provides the necessary funds, though the department is close to selecting a prime integrator for the project.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that his department will need billions of dollars more to launch the ambitious overhaul of the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system that the Trump administration promised earlier this year.

Speaking at a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) in New Jersey amid the holiday travel rush, Duffy said lawmakers will have to deliver almost double what they have already set aside to fully fund the ATC rebuild.