Overview
- Transportation and HHS officials unveiled the “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” initiative at Reagan National Airport, offering flexible grants for airports to improve the travel experience.
- Eligible projects include children’s play areas, nursing pods and mothers’ rooms, family security lanes, sensory rooms, exercise spaces, and expanded access to healthier food vendors such as Farmer’s Fridge.
- DOT described the grant criteria as “pretty wide open,” encouraging airports and private partners to pitch a broad range of terminal upgrades focused on families and health.
- A pull-up demonstration by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, and others drew heavy online criticism that the rollout emphasized spectacle over substance.
- Coverage noted the announcement did not address persistent operational issues such as FAA air traffic controller shortages, flight delays, or high airport food costs, which critics say travelers prioritize.