U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy: Passing One Big Beautiful Bill is a Down Payment for a Brand-New Air Traffic Control System

The One Big Beautiful Bill will Deliver Billions Essential to Get Started on Upgrading U.S. Air Traffic Control Systems

SAN DIEGO, CA — Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy urged Congress to pass President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill to begin upgrading the U.S.’s aging air traffic control systems at a press conference following his tour of San Diego International Airport (SAN)’s Air Traffic Control Tower. The Secretary was joined by Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer (A) Frank McIntosh.

SAN is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the U.S. and supports approximately 200,000 arrivals and departures annually.

“Building a brand-new Air Traffic Control system is exactly the kind of investment Americans are excited about,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The One Big Beautiful Bill is the down payment America needs for a brand-new air traffic control system. While we’ll need additional funding to get the job done, the choice before Congress is clear – pass the OBBB and let USDOT get to work or vote no and leave USDOT with zero dollars to begin replacing our aging system. I urge Congress to deliver on President Donald Trump’s promise to the American people to get America building again.”

“As a former air traffic controller and manager, I know firsthand how important it is for the nation’s air traffic controllers to have equipment they can rely on. While air travel continues to be the safest form of transportation, unless we act now, we will see more delays and disruption,” said Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer (A) Frank McIntosh. 

View the Secretary’s full press conference HERE and b-roll can be found HERE.