WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a major push for congressional funding to accelerate the modernization of America's air traffic control (ATC) system, specifically targeting new software development. The announcement, made on April 25, 2026, highlights the need for substantial investment to reduce air travel gridlock and improve on-time flight performance across the nation. Secretary Duffy emphasized that while significant progress has been made on infrastructure, additional funds are crucial to complete the technological overhaul.
The Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently undertaking a comprehensive, three-year initiative to upgrade the antiquated ATC system, aiming for completion by the end of 2028. This modernization effort includes replacing outdated radar, hardware, and telecommunications networks. Congress previously allocated $12.5 billion for these initial infrastructure improvements, which have seen nearly half of copper wiring replaced with fiber optics and new surface awareness systems installed at 54 airports.
However, Secretary Duffy stressed that the existing funding primarily addresses infrastructure, leaving a critical gap for advanced software. "We are going to need more money for the software side of this build," Duffy stated, indicating a need for an additional $7 to $10 billion. He reiterated this call on social media, tweeting: > "🚨NEW SOFTWARE COMING! @USDOT and President Trump are giving a MAJOR UPDATE to America’s air traffic control. But to finish the job CONGRESS needs to give us the money for brand NEW SOFTWARE that will help reduce gridlock and allow YOU to enjoy ON TIME FLIGHTS ✈️".
This new software is envisioned to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance air traffic management, allowing controllers to predict and deconflict potential issues hours in advance, rather than minutes. This strategic management of airspace routing trajectories (SMART) aims to optimize traffic flow, reduce delays, and decrease controller workload, ultimately leading to a more efficient and reliable national airspace system. The FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted that this software would help manage inherent conflicts in the current system.
The administration views this software investment as essential for ensuring the reliability and safety of the aviation industry for decades to come. Despite the bipartisan support for aviation concerns, Secretary Duffy urged Congress to "find a pathway to get us the rest of that money" to ensure the software development, deployment, and training can keep pace with the ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
