Newark Airport Gets New Radar, but DOT Seeks $10B for Additional Upgrades

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford share latest progress on the multibillion-dollar effort.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Bryan Bedford (from left), FAA administrator, Sean Duffy, U.S. transportation secretary, Kevin O’Toole, chair of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Kathryn Garcia, executive director of PANYNJ, inaugurate a new radar at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). [Credit: Jack Daleo]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford inaugurated a new surface movement radar at Newark Liberty International Airport and are seeking an additional $10 billion for further air traffic control (ATC) upgrades, aiming for completion by the end of 2028.
A significant portion of the requested funding will support the development and deployment of "SMART," an AI-powered software designed to predict airspace conditions months in advance and increase system capacity, with testing beginning in September.
The extensive ATC modernization program includes widespread infrastructure upgrades—such as new surface movement radars at 44 busiest airports, telecom wiring, and various system conversions—alongside the hiring and training of 4,000 new air traffic controllers to meet future demand and enhance system reliability.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Monday inaugurated a new surface movement radar (SMR) at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). But the officials are seeking at least $10 billion more for further air traffic control (ATC) upgrades.

Duffy has previously requested $19 billion in addition to the $12.5 billion allocated by Congress to the effort in 2025. In July, the Modern Skies Coalition, a group of aviation stakeholders led by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), called on Congress to allocate another $20 billion.