FAA Chief Defends Choice for ATC Overhaul Contractor

Georgia congressman raises concerns about technology firm’s experience and background.

Zach Vasile

Friday, December 19, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

An air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport [Credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Key Takeaways:

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford defended the controversial selection of Peraton for a $31 billion+ rebuild of the nation's air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure.
Representative Hank Johnson questioned the choice, citing Peraton's perceived lack of FAA experience, private equity ownership, and the contract's high value, implying potential impropriety in the selection process.
Bedford justified Peraton's selection based on its specialized expertise in migrating analog systems to digital VOIP and native cloud structures, proven with the Department of Defense and NASA, which was deemed essential for modernizing the FAA's outdated technology.

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FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford this week defended the federal government’s choice of security and technology company Peraton to handle an expansive rebuild of the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure.

At a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Tuesday, Representative Hank Johnson of Georgia asked Bedford why a relatively young company with “little to no experience” working with the FAA was given control of a contract that will likely be worth over $31 billion over several years.