The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) yesterday welcomed Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy’s call for an additional $30 billion in funding to continue the work to modernize the Nation’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) system and airport infrastructure.

In remarks to the Aero Club of Washington, Duffy said the modernization work underway since July 2025 needs more funding for ATC telecom infrastructure, airports, towers and technology, beyond what Congress provided last year.

NBAA and nearly 60 other groups formed the Modern Skies Coalition in March 2025 to call for a significant investment in a brand-new ATC system. Four months later, Congress approved $12.5 billion for ATC modernization.

The Association was among the signatories to a Modern Skies Coalition statement, issued yesterday, supporting Duffy’s call for additional ATC-modernization funds. 

The ATC system serves approximately 45,000 flights and 2.9 million passengers every day. ATC modernization requires updates at more than 4,600 FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) sites across the country.