The chair of the House Aviation Safety Caucus has criticized the current administration for contributing to the ongoing Air Traffic Control (ATC) crisis. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) expressed concerns to Fox News Digital about the previous administration’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, describing it as a significant “missed opportunity” for ATC improvements.
“I wasn’t in Congress then, but it seems like the priorities were misplaced,” Langworthy remarked. “They could have redirected funds toward critical infrastructure modernization instead.” He pointed out that, prior to recent crashes, the U.S. experienced a long period without major aviation incidents.
Langworthy highlighted a recent power outage affecting air traffic control screens in Newark International Airport, as well as a military helicopter’s collision with a passenger plane coming from Kansas, both of which raised alarms about safety. He shared that he’s doubtful about whether the current policies directly impact the ATC system, noting how funds were allocated differently instead.
The congressman stressed that aviation is essential infrastructure and should have received more focused investment. The bipartisan infrastructure bill allotted $25 billion over five years for modernization through the FAA; however, many lawmakers believe that’s insufficient. The previous president’s budget proposal included an additional $12 billion targeted at upgrading ATC.
Langworthy spoke about the necessity to inspire younger generations to pursue careers in government services, particularly in ATC, emphasizing the competitive salary it offers despite the demanding nature of the job. He called for a renewed focus on the issue rather than treating it as a given.
In collaboration with Transport Secretary Shawn Duffy, Langworthy has committed to seeking essential funding to address the pressing ATC challenges. He expressed the need to prioritize these initiatives and to frontload resources necessary for comprehensive modernization.
