The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) praised the FY2026 budget estimate for the FAA, calling it a critical investment in safety and modernization, but emphasized that additional funding will be required to meet long-term goals.
Proposing $22 billion for the FAA, the FY2026 President’s Budget Request names safety as the agency’s top priority. The budget supports expanded hiring and training for air traffic controllers, increased aviation safety oversight, and targeted improvements to cybersecurity infrastructure. Funding is also allocated to accelerate modernization of the agency’s core systems, including telecommunications infrastructure and radar surveillance capabilities.
To rebuild the pipeline of certified professional controllers, the FAA has requested $97.3 million to support hiring and training up to 2,500 controller trainees in FY 2026 as part of a continuing surge effort that began in the previous fiscal year. The budget also proposes $9.7 million and 91 new positions to enhance oversight of aircraft production and maintenance operations, alongside $35 million for cybersecurity enhancements.
Major infrastructure investments are proposed under Project LIFT, a $1.0 billion initiative to transition the FAA’s legacy telecommunications to modern Internet Protocol (IP) systems. The effort includes the acquisition of new voice switches and IP radios. Additionally, $450 million is requested to launch a multi-year radar replacement program aimed at improving situational awareness, operational resilience, and the integration of emerging technologies such as drones and advanced air mobility platforms.
In a May 28 statement, AIA president and CEO Eric Fanning said the budget “will sustain and support the workforce, technology, systems, and infrastructure that make the American airspace system the global gold standard.”
He also described the proposal as “a welcome first step to fundamentally remake the air traffic control system and usher in the next generation of safer, more efficient flight,” adding that more upfront investment will be necessary to fully realize the administration’s objectives.
Fanning said AIA stands ready to work with Congress to ensure timely passage and full resourcing of the budget. The association represents companies involved in the development, manufacture, and maintenance of civil and commercial aircraft and spacecraft.
The FAA’s proposed budget comes alongside recent funding from the reconciliation bill aimed at infrastructure and safety improvements across the U.S. airspace system. AIA stressed that continued bipartisan support will be crucial to maintain the country’s leadership in global aerospace.