FAA Chief to Testify on $12.5B Air Traffic Upgrade
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford will update a House committee on the modernization effort funded by Congress in June 2025.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Air Travel
Live Poll
Should the federal government spend another $30 billion on air traffic control upgrades?
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is scheduled to testify Tuesday, November 11, 2026, before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on progress toward modernizing the nation's air traffic control system. Congress approved $12.5 billion over five years in June 2025 for the reforms, and the Trump administration is now seeking another $30 billion.
Why it matters
The air traffic control system is aging, and the additional funding request would extend work on towers, software, digital upgrades and airport facilities nationwide. Lawmakers' review of progress and challenges will shape how the remaining modernization effort is financed and prioritized.
Congress approved $12.5 billion over five years in June 2025 for air traffic control reforms, and the Trump administration is seeking an additional $30 billion for towers, software, digital upgrades and airport facilities. The extraction does not detail the specific progress made so far or whether the new request has been approved.
The players
Bryan Bedford
Bryan Bedford is the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the federal agency responsible for regulating and overseeing U.S. civil aviation and its air traffic control system.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is a standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that oversees federal transportation and infrastructure policy, including aviation.
The details
Bedford will update the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the progress of the modernization effort and the challenges that remain. The Trump administration's request covers air traffic control towers, software, digital upgrades and improvements to airport facilities.
Timeline
June 2025: Congress approved $12.5 billion over five years for air traffic control reforms.
Tuesday, November 11, 2026: FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford testifies before the House Transportation Committee.
Seasonal Patterns
Congress's June 2025 approval of $12.5 billion over five years set the baseline for the current modernization effort, and the Trump administration's new request for $30 billion would build on that foundation. Together, the two funding decisions define the scale of federal investment in the aging air traffic control system.
Travelers should watch for how the proposed $30 billion would affect flight delays and airport operations in the coming years. The testimony may clarify which upgrades are prioritized and when passengers might see changes.
The takeaway
Billions in funding have been approved for air traffic control, but the system's aging infrastructure still requires substantial additional investment. Tuesday's testimony will show how far the modernization effort has progressed.
What happens next
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is scheduled to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday, November 11, 2026.
Further reading
For broader context on how federal funding shapes flight operations, see Air Travel coverage on Wisevoter.
Live Poll
Should the federal government spend another $30 billion on air traffic control upgrades?
