The Trump administration has announced a plan to replace the country’s aging air traffic control system with an all-new technology—but needs Congress to allot tens of billions of dollars.

Plans for a new air traffic control system were announced Thursday by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy amid a spotlight on the out-of-date ATC system and the air traffic controller shortage ...

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces a new air traffic control infrastructure plan, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) ...

Congress approved a sweeping budget deal that includes $12.5 billion to modernize America’s aging air traffic control system.

Precisely because of the operational nature of air-traffic control, in fact, the federal government is poorly suited to run the system.