Duffy pushes Senate to pass funding bill for aging air traffic system as Newark faces outages and staffing gaps.

Outdated Infrastructure and Staff Shortages Strain U.S. Air Travel

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday urged the Senate to pass the Big Beautiful Bill, a legislative proposal allocating $12.5 billion to overhaul the United States’ aging air traffic control system. Speaking at the Transportation Department, Duffy highlighted recent disruptions at Newark International Airport as evidence of a nationwide crisis in aviation infrastructure.

“We have an antiquated and old air traffic control system, anywhere from 25 to 40 years old in some places,” Duffy said. “It is in desperate need of a brand-new build. We need Congress to act.”

Newark Airport recently suffered multiple radar and telecom outages linked to outdated fiber infrastructure. These failures originated at the Philly TRACON (terminal radar approach control), the center that manages radar data and flight coordination for the region. According to Duffy, Verizon installed a new fiber optic line between Philadelphia and New York in just 30 days to restore data flow and stability, replacing older copper lines vulnerable to failure.

“That’s just an example of what’s going to happen should Congress give us the money to do this brand-new build,” Duffy said. “And by the way, it’s a nationwide plan.”

The Transportation Secretary confirmed that a software update had been deployed to correct the initial glitches and that the Verizon line had stabilized systems. However, he noted that more funding would likely be needed and called on lawmakers to streamline the permitting process to accelerate further modernization efforts.

Duffy also praised President Donald Trump for supporting airspace reform and criticized the Biden administration’s decision to shift Newark’s airspace oversight to Philadelphia before infrastructure improvements were in place.

Compounding the technical challenges, Duffy revealed that staffing levels at the Philadelphia TRACON remain critically low. Of the 27 total personnel assigned, only 16 are actively working due to trauma or medical leave, including just five supervisors. Another 16 new air traffic controllers are currently in training and are expected to be deployed in phases.

“When the runway reopens June 15, we’ll bump that up to 34 [flights] an hour and reassess again in October once more controllers are certified,” he said.

Ongoing construction on Newark’s runway has also limited flight capacity, further contributing to delays. Duffy expressed confidence that the work will be completed by June 15.

Despite the setbacks, Duffy insisted the U.S. air traffic system remains safe. “Some have asked, is the airspace safe? Is it safe to travel by airplane?” he said. “And the answer to that is absolutely yes.”