House panel presses FAA on modernization integrator, seeks spending reports for $12.5 billion program

House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee members pressed Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Scott Bedford on the agency’s plan to spend a $12.5 billion congressional down payment for air‑traffic control modernization and on the role of Peraton, the newly selected prime integrator.

The questioning came during Bedford’s first congressional appearance since becoming FAA administrator, and was framed by repeated references to the Jan. 29 mid‑air collision near Reagan National that killed 67 people. Chairman Nels told Bedford the committee will conduct oversight of the $12.5 billion and asked whether the FAA is prepared to provide the quarterly reports required by the reauthorization law.

The hearing focused on how the FAA will manage contractors, meet three‑year deployment milestones and avoid repeating the delays and cost overruns that plagued earlier modernization efforts. Bedford said the agency has already committed “over $6,000,000,000 of the 12 and a half” for telecom infrastructure and radar upgrades and described a phased approach: convert copper to fiber, deploy digital radios and voice switches, then change the architecture from analog to digital and lift computing to a centralized layer.

Several members pressed Bedford on Peraton, the company named as the FAA’s prime integrator. Representative Johnson called the size and speed of the program “a concern,” citing Peraton’s ownership by private equity and asking how the agency ensured the selection served taxpayers’ interests. Bedford defended the process as career‑led and transparent: “It was transparent. It was diligent. It was run by both career FAA people,” he said, adding that Peraton brings expertise in moving defense systems to cloud‑native and VOIP architectures that the FAA lacks in‑house.

Members asked what guardrails and accountability measures would be placed around Peraton’s work and whether the FAA would deliver the report language required by law. Bedford said he is the ultimate accountability officer at the FAA and that the agency has adopted a “think slow, move fast” approach to define the end state before spending. He also committed to producing the reports Congress requires and to provide the committee with transparency and regular updates.

Why it matters: The modernization program is designed to replace decades‑old telecommunications, radar and facility equipment across the National Airspace System. Lawmakers warned that the stakes are high for safety and reliability and demanded clear metrics and regular reporting so that Congress can track spending and outcomes.

The hearing produced no formal committee votes on the modernization program but sharpened lawmakers’ demands for documentation, reporting timelines and performance metrics. Bedford said the FAA has already rolled out portions of the planned work and described near‑term deployments and the agency’s approach to contractor oversight.

Next steps: Committee members said they will require the statutorily mandated reports and follow up with requests for more detailed briefings on Peraton’s role, contract terms and performance milestones.