Overview

• The FAA has implemented temporary flight caps at Newark and other hubs following repeated outages and staffing shortages that have caused severe delays and cancellations.
• The Trump administration’s proposed $31 billion 'Brand New Air Traffic Control System Plan' seeks upfront congressional funding for critical technology upgrades, with $12.5 billion already approved as an initial installment.
• Critics argue that the plan fails to address the FAA’s dual role as both operator and regulator, a structural issue that international aviation bodies recommend eliminating.
• Recent incidents, including a deadly January midair collision near Washington and over 15,000 close-proximity events since 2021, highlight the growing safety risks in an aging ATC system.
• Experts warn that without governance reform, the U.S. risks falling further behind countries like Canada, which operate modernized, corporatized air traffic control systems.