Trump administration seeks $50 billion for air traffic control overhaul after FAA outage

Following a November 13, 2026 Federal Aviation Administration ground stop that halted domestic departures for over four hours, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin requested $50 billion from Congress for a complete air traffic control overhaul. The outage, caused by data overloads on 1980s-era copper lines and routers, led to nearly 5,000 flight cancellations and 10,000 delays nationwide.

Funding requests for air traffic overhaul

• ▪Prior to the $50 billion request, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and OMB Director Russ Vought formally requested $30.1 billion from Congress on November 12, 2026
• ▪Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin requested $50 billion from Congress to overhaul the air traffic control system
• ▪Airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines expressed support for the Trump administration's $30.1 billion air traffic control modernization request
• ▪The Trump administration's $30.1 billion request included $10.1 billion for ATC modernization, $2 billion for control towers, and $18 billion for airport-related projects

Failures of outdated air traffic technology

• ▪Federal officials noted the Federal Aviation Administration relies on 1980s copper lines, outdated switches, and aging routers that overloaded with data, causing radar and communication instability during the November 13, 2026 disruption
• ▪The Federal Aviation Administration relies on decades-old computers, internet auction sites for replacement parts, and floppy disks at more than 400 air traffic control facilities

Details of the November 13 ground stop

• ▪The FAA lifted the nationwide ground stop
• ▪Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA issued a nationwide ground stop halting flight departures

Assessments of safety and cyber threats

• ▪Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated on November 13, 2026 that public safety was never at risk during the November 13 Federal Aviation Administration ground stop
• ▪Federal officials reported finding no evidence that the November 13, 2026 FAA outage was caused by a cyberattack or artificial intelligence failures

Previous funding approved by Congress

• ▪The Senate Commerce Committee majority noted that Congress previously approved $1.9 billion in the July 2025 reconciliation law specifically to replace outdated air route traffic control centers
• ▪Congress approved $12.5 billion in funding for air traffic control upgrades and controller hiring under a July 2025 law