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DOT lays out multiyear effort to overhaul air traffic control, emphasizes staffing push
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Summary
At a House Transportation and Infrastructure hearing, Secretary Duffy described a 3–4 year plan to modernize the FAA's air traffic control systems, highlighted a $12.5 billion initial appropriation and said the department is accelerating controller hiring and retention as part of the effort.
WASHINGTON
The Department of Transportation on Thursday outlined a multiyear program to modernize the nation's air traffic control infrastructure and said it is taking immediate steps to expand and retain the air traffic controller workforce.
At a hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Secretary Duffy said Congress's $12.5 billion appropriation for air traffic control modernization provides an immediate down payment to replace telecommunications infrastructure, upgrade radar, strengthen runway safety systems and begin replacing outdated facilities.
'I took office nearly six months ago, and in my first full day on the job, we experienced a sobering reminder of why the department's top priority is and always must be safety,' Duffy said, pointing to a recent midair collision and to system interruptions that exposed weaknesses in telecom and radar capacity.
Why it matters: Members of both parties told Duffy the FAA needs both new equipment and more people. Committee members and the secretary said the work will require follow-on funding beyond the initial appropriation, changes to procurement and a coordinated roll-out that keeps the current system safe while new systems are phased in.
Key details
- Funding and scope: Committee leaders and Duffy described the $12.5 billion as an initial investment that will pay for telecommunications upgrades (from copper to fiber), new radios and voice switches, targeted radar and runway surveillance projects and some facility work. Duffy said the full program could cost substantially more and will require additional congressional appropriations.
- Common automation platform: Duffy said the most technically complex and time-consuming part of the modernization is the common automation platform'the software that controls air traffic. The department does not yet have an off-the-shelf product for that element and expects a lengthier procurement and integration period.
- Procurement and integrator model: Duffy told the committee the FAA will use its special procurement authority and said the department plans to select an integrator to manage the overall program rather than attempting to operate the entire multiyear program internally.
- Controller staffing: The department has launched a 'supercharged' hiring effort at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and new retention steps for experienced controllers. Duffy said the department has offered upfront cash bonuses to delay retirements and has expanded academy throughput; he said July was the busiest month in academy history. Duffy told the committee the department expects to graduate roughly 2,000 new controllers this year with higher numbers planned next year, but acknowledged that full operational certification for controllers can take 12'36 months depending on the airspace.
- Near-term priorities: Replace critical telecom lines, expedite runway safety technology and accelerate hiring to reduce reliance on overtime. Duffy cited a recent telecom replacement in the Philadelphia/Newark TRACON area as an example of quick remediation when corporate partners were engaged.
What lawmakers asked: Members pressed for a timeline, an estimated total cost, and assurances that deployments can occur while the system continues operating. Several members urged safeguards to prevent single-vendor lock-in and asked that the FAA provide regular, specific briefings on progress and cost.
Quotes
'This is the greatest infrastructure project in decades,' Duffy said, describing the modernization as essential to preserving safety and expanding capacity for new entrants such as drones and advanced air mobility.
'If we are on the current plan, we're over 300 years to replace all the towers, TRACONs and centers,' one member said as lawmakers pressed for a faster schedule; Duffy said the additional appropriation and integrator approach are intended to shorten that timeline.
What remains unresolved: A final cost estimate for the complete modernization effort, the procurement timetable for the common automation platform, and the precise cadence of congressional funding after the initial appropriation. Lawmakers also sought clearer milestones and readouts for workforce certification and deployment.
Looking ahead: Duffy told the committee he will seek continuing engagement with the panel and expects to return with more detailed procurement and cost materials. Committee leaders said they plan continued oversight and monthly stakeholder discussions to monitor schedule and spending.
