Overview

• The Department of Transportation is urging Congress to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to secure $12.5 billion for initial system upgrades.
• More than 50 aviation organizations and CEOs of American, Southwest, JetBlue and United Airlines have publicly endorsed the funding request.
• Planned upgrades include replacing legacy equipment—such as floppy disks, copper wiring and rotary phones—with digital radar, fiber-optic lines and modern radios.
• To address a shortage of around 3,500 certified controllers, the DOT has ramped up recruitment and approved a 20 percent retention bonus for current air traffic controllers.
• Senate leaders have scheduled a vote for this Friday, and the White House expects President Trump to sign the measure by Independence Day.