Duckworth Pushes For Long-term Funding Certainty For Air Traffic Control System Modernization Project, Calls On FAA To Invest In Tech And Training

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST) Aviation Subcommittee hearing, Ranking Member Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reiterated the urgent need to modernize our nation’s air traffic control system, expressing support for providing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with an additional $20 billion to ensure long-term funding certainty, while calling on the FAA to prioritize phase one investments on the systems and infrastructure that is guaranteed to deliver long-term value. Video of the Senator’s opening remarks are available on her YouTube.

“If we want any chance of success at ATC modernization, we simply cannot afford to deny FAA the certainty of long-term funding—$12.5 billion is a meaningful downpayment, but it’s not nearly enough,” said Duckworth. “Over the past several decades, the FAA has neglected the capabilities and capacity of the ATC system’s most important asset—its people. The bottom line is that successfully building a ‘Brand New’ ATC system will require rebuilding a depleted and demoralized workforce.”

In addition to upgrading radars and replacing telecom equipment, Duckworth urged FAA Administrator Brian Bedford to invest a portion of the modernization project’s existing $12.5 billion downpayment toward enhancing the FAA’s workforce infrastructure to enhance its capabilities and capacity to hire, train and retain more desperately needed air traffic controllers and FAA technicians. Specifically, Duckworth expressed support for the FAA using modernization funds to procure ATC training equipment to entice far more academic institutions to join the FAA’s Enhanced Collegiate Training Initiative and pushed Administrator Bedford to invest in additional FAA Academies in population centers across the country.

Duckworth also stressed her concerns over the FAA’s self-imposed 2028 deadline to complete the latest massive ATC modernization project, and she pressed FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on how he plans to ensure standards aren’t compromised for the sake of speed—especially after Donald Trump slashed the FAA workforce in his indiscriminate mass firings. Video of the Senator’s questioning are available on her YouTube.

“I am concerned by the focus on meeting an arbitrary, unrealistic three-year timeline,” continued Duckworth. “Without stringent oversight, such an environment is at high risk for less stringent quality control, malfunctioning systems and inadequate time to train controllers on new technology. We cannot afford to cut corners when it comes to our aviation system. The American people need us to be sure we have worked out issues before we entrust their lives to any new system or technologies.”

Duckworth has long been a leading voice in the push to strengthen our air traffic control system and workforce. Earlier this month, after the Trump Administration cruelly provided only four percent of the ATC and technician workforce with $10,000 bonuses—despite all of them working without pay during the Republican-led government shutdown—Duckworth demanded Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to award those bonuses to every single ATC and technician.

For years, Duckworth has been soundingthe alarm that we must make critical aviation safety investments immediately to prevent all-too-often near-misses from becoming catastrophic tragedies. Last Congress, Duckworth chaired two CST Aviation Subcommittee hearings—one last December and the other a year prior—to address our aviation industry’s chilling surge in near-deadly close calls and underscore the urgent need to improve air traffic control systems to protect the flying public.

Last year, Duckworth helped author the landmark bipartisan FAA reauthorization that was signed into law to extend the FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to safeguard the 1,500-hour rule, improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.

More like this:

Duckworth Rips FAA For Safety Failure Before Dca Collision, Urges Trump Administration To Heed Her Calls For Better-Equipped Aviation Workforce

Feb 15, 2026

Duckworth Reacts to NTSB Final Report on Tragic DCA Collision

Feb 18, 2026

Duckworth, Cantwell, Markey Demand Investigation into Whether FAA Chief Deliberately Violated Ethics Agreement to Boost Stock Payout Beyond $25M

6 days ago

Duckworth Demands Joint Investigation into Trump Administration’s Failures Leading Up to El Paso and Fort Hancock Incidents

Mar 13, 2026

Duckworth Demands All Air Traffic Controllers Who Worked Without Pay During Republican Shutdown, Not Only Trump’s Favorites, Receive $10,000 Bonuses

Dec 3, 2025