U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) is encouraged that President-elect Donald Trump is receptive to proposals to create an independent organization to run the nation’s air traffic control system. The lawmaker, who is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, had spoken to Trump about ATC reform “in broad terms and…thought he was open to the concept,” the committee confirmed.
Those discussions did not get into detail about specifics of Shuster’s proposal, the committee added. But the lawmaker told the Associated Press, "I have spoken to him on a number of occasions and he generally likes the idea. We do need to sit down and put meat on the bones."
Shuster is reaching out to the transition team on transportation issues, the committee added. Former Virginia transportation secretary Shirley Ybarra is spearheading Trump’s transition efforts in the area of transportation. A potential candidate for the secretary of transportation position, Ybarra is a former analyst at the Reason Foundation, which in general has supported privatization of a range of government functions and more specifically has been a vocal advocate for ATC privatization. Another potential candidate for the transportation secretary role also has offered support for Shuster’s ATC reform proposal—Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), who recently lost his bid for re-election.
General aviation advocates, who have strongly opposed the concept of an independent ATC organization, have noted that the “wild card” in the ATC debate may be the position of the next administration. The current White House has remained neutral on the concept.
At the same time though, general aviation advocates believe that getting such a proposal through Congress remains a difficult prospect, particularly since it has had little support from leaders of other key committees, such as both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
The opposition was evident after an effort to increase support for the concept was recently pushed back by opponents on Capitol Hill. ATC reform backers had offered language to the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that was designed to address the Department of Defense concerns about the proposal.
But that language was bypassed after opponents voiced their concern. “House proponents of privatizing the ATC system are seeking language directing the Secretary of Defense to ‘comply with all congressional mandates related to the provision of air traffic services,’ inappropriately telling the Department of Defense to shelve its concerns,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, wrote in a letter to key Senate leaders, adding, “Input from the Department of Defense is essential.”
Democrat leaders on the House T&I Committee this month also restated their opposition to the proposal. “The results of [the] election may have given proponents of air traffic control privatization hope that their proposal will have more success in the next Congress, but those same proponents have failed to answer the many serious questions regarding their plan,” said Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the committee.
Proponents, however, have been clear that they will continue to push the idea ias the next Congress renews debate on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. “Congress must pass an FAA reauthorization bill that modernizes our aging air traffic control system and significantly improves the efficiency of our aviation system,” Shuster said. “I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump and my Senate and House colleagues to develop a transportation agenda that will benefit all Americans and ensure that our infrastructure is second to none.”