FAA Could Get $4B for ATC Upgrades in 2027 Budget

White House request calls for a $481 million increase to the agency’s operations account.

Jack Daleo

Friday, April 03, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Requested funding is intended to support the FAA’s efforts to sustain and modernize the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The White House’s FY27 budget requests $4 billion for the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS), adding to prior allocations for a total of at least $16.5 billion aimed at comprehensive modernization and infrastructure upgrades.
A significant portion of the budget is allocated to support an air traffic controller (ATC) hiring surge, with a goal of recruiting at least 8,900 new ATCs by 2028, and also includes upgrades to aviation safety and telecommunications systems.
Funding for these FAA priorities comes at the cost of a proposed $372 million cut to the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, while skepticism remains among officials and lawmakers regarding the sufficiency of the allocated funds and accountability for the ambitious modernization goals.

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The White House’s fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget request calls for $4 billion to fund the FAA’s three-year, brand new air traffic control system (BNATCS) effort, adding to $12.5 billion allocated by Congress last year.

President Donald Trump requested $26.6 billion for the Transportation Department (DOT) overall, a $1.6 billion or 6.3 percent increase over 2026 funding levels. Of that, $4 billion would be set aside for air traffic control (ATC) “facilities and equipment” upgrades.