Modernizing Our Air Traffic Control System

If you've ever gotten on an airplane to travel, you've relied on our air traffic control system to get you safely to where you're going. Tragically, this year, we've all seen what happens when that system fails. Aviation remains a safe mode of travel, but we can’t afford to allow system failures to continue; we must have the most up-to-date system with the best controllers—period.

Despite trying to make upgrades years ago, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hasn’t gotten the job done. In fact, air traffic control facilities still use copper wire and floppy disks to communicate. The only other place you’ll find those these days is a museum. You can imagine how much money it’s costing taxpayers for this inefficient system. On top of that, radar systems and air traffic control towers are aging as well.

Last year, we passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which focused on aviation safety and solving many of our workforce issues. Thankfully, President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recognize that this issue is a priority, increasing salaries for trainees, with a plan to hire 2000 controllers this year. This goes hand in hand with a requirement we included in the 2024 FAA law for the FAA to hire the maximum number of controller trainees.  We also required the FAA to revise its staffing model to better reflect its actual staffing needs. 

This year, as the Chairman, I was proud to lead the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in not only saving money by getting rid of wasteful Green New Deal spending but also allocating more resources where they are desperately needed.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act under the budget reconciliation process. This bill included $12.5 billion to begin the long-overdue down payment on modernizing our nation’s air traffic control system.This critical investment will help replace air traffic control towers, radar systems, and antiquated communications systems and allocate resources to train, recruit, and retain air traffic controllers. And I will continue working to build upon this significant down payment and provide the additional investments necessary.

Modernizing our air traffic control system may not be the flashiest topic, but when you’re in an airplane, it’s one of the only things that matters in you getting to your destination safely.

There’s much work to be done to bring our system into the 21st century. However, with the leadership of President Trump, Secretary Duffy, and what we’ve been able to accomplish at the Transportation Committee, I’m confident that travelers in North Missouri can rest assured that aviation will continue to be one of the safest methods of transportation for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves