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DRIVING THE NEWS: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Tours San Angelo Regional Airport with Texas Congressman August Pfluger

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$18 million from President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act will be invested into airport infrastructure critical to rural communities in West Texas

SAN ANGELO, TX – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Texas Congressman August Pfluger (TX-10) yesterday visited the San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT) to preview upgrades to its air traffic control tower paid for by President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act.

Over the next year and a half, $18 million will be invested at SJT in:

  • New IP Voice Switches (Already complete)
  • New radios
  • New Electronic Information Display System
  • Replacing old copper telecommunications lines with high-speed fiber, 5G wireless

Following the tour at SJT, Secretary Duffy and Congressman Pfluger joined local officials and aviation leaders for a roundtable discussion at Angelo State University (ASU). ASU is the first Texas college to join the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (E-CTI) program.

Students who pass the E-CTI program can apply to become a controller on a fast track – skipping the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy in Oklahoma City and jumping straight to on-site facility training. During the visit, Secretary Duffy spoke with ASU students participating in the program.

“West Texas is fortunate to have a representative in Congress like Rep. Pfluger. His advocacy helped secure $18 million for air traffic control upgrades to SJT’s tower serving over 100,000 passengers annually. We’re also thrilled to welcome Angelo State University into our E-CTI program, which will help more Texans pursue their dreams and reverse years of air traffic controller shortages,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy.

“San Angelo has a long history of training the world’s best aviators, and I’m glad to welcome Transportation Secretary Duffy to our district to see this firsthand. The combination of abundant airspace, outstanding weather, and the best facilities in our region make this one of the most ideal places in the country to train pilots. To continue that legacy and keep pace with the demands of aviation, we must replace our aging air traffic control tower, and I commend Secretary Duffy and the Trump administration for recognizing this issue. I look forward to working alongside Secretary Duffy to get this done and ensure San Angelo remains the gold standard for pilot training in this country,” said Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11).


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Last updated: Monday, June 29, 2026