The Trump administration is asking Congress to approve an additional $30.1 billion to modernize the nation's airports and air traffic control system, citing outdated technology, staffing challenges, and repeated disruptions across U.S. airspace.

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outlined the request in a letter to lawmakers Friday, urging Congress to approve the funding before Democrats take control of Congress in January. Congress previously approved $12.5 billion over five years in July 2025 for air traffic control upgrades and additional controller hiring.

The new proposal allocates $10.1 billion for air traffic control modernization, including $7.2 billion for a common automation platform and updated controller workstations, along with $2 billion for cloud computing. Another $2 billion would go toward replacing and upgrading FAA control towers.

The remaining $18 billion is designated for airport projects, including $10 billion to modernize or replace aging passenger terminals. Vought and Duffy said the investment would provide updated hardware and software, stronger telecommunications infrastructure, and improved airport facilities. Major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have expressed support for the request.

The Federal Aviation Administration continues to rely on decades-old computer systems and has resorted to purchasing replacement parts through online auction websites. Last week, the agency announced plans to replace floppy disks used to transmit weather and other critical information at more than 400 air traffic control facilities by the end of 2028.

The administration said 68% of the FAA's legacy copper telecommunications network has already been replaced with high-speed fiber infrastructure. However, recent failures have demonstrated the vulnerabilities of the existing system. In September, a circuit failure at a Philadelphia air traffic facility and construction crews accidentally cutting a fiber-optic cable in New Jersey contributed to thousands of flight delays and cancellations across the Northeast.

The funding push also follows a January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people, renewing scrutiny of the nation's air traffic control system and its ability to manage increasingly complex airspace.