Overview

• The lost funding was part of a roughly $57 million FAA package for restroom renovations, taxiway repairs, and sustainability projects.
• The FAA’s 2025 grant agreements require certification restricting certain DEI programs, and Atlanta declined to sign after its edits were rejected.
• Airport general manager Ricky Smith notified the FAA on July 29 that the city would not accept the new provisions, and the agency confirmed the money would not be released.
• The city says federal dollars make up less than 10% of the airport’s six-year capital program and it will pursue alternative financing.
• The FAA says some funding could be available next fiscal year if Atlanta signs a grant agreement, as other major cities press lawsuits challenging the mandate.