FAA says air traffic control overhaul needs additional $20 billion

Published January 2, 2026 4:29pm ET



Federal Aviation Administration officials are warning lawmakers that the $12.5 billion Congress approved last year to begin modernizing the nation’s air traffic control system will not be enough to fix deep structural flaws embedded across U.S. aviation infrastructure.

Testifying before the House in mid-December, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency will need an additional $20 billion to fully rebuild systems he described as outdated, inefficient, and increasingly unsustainable.

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