The Trump Administration has made the overhaul of the current air traffic control system a top priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Last summer, through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB),1 the administration secured a $12.5 billion "down payment" from the U.S. Congress to modernize the system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported significant progress on this project, now known as the Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) effort, and recently provided a status update to stakeholders at DOT headquarters. Despite this initial progress, DOT and FAA leadership continue to lobby Congress to appropriate an additional $20 billion to complete the project. On April 21, 2026, the DOT provided a status update on the project.
