The House of Representatives approved a consolidated spending package this afternoon by a 217-215 vote, signaling the end of the four-day partial government shutdown that began on January 31. The legislation includes full-year appropriations for the Department of Transportation and other federal agencies, with a short-term funding extension for the Department of Homeland Security. The package, passed by the Senate on Friday, now goes to the White House for an expected Presidential signature.
NATA has been advocating for swift passage of the FY2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, which allocates enhanced funding levels for the FAA. The $22.2 billion in total budgetary resources for FAA includes a $235 million increase for the Air Traffic Organization, an $824 million increase for FAA facilities and equipment, resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers, and more than $368 million for the Airport Improvement Program, repurposed from the 2021 infrastructure law.
“NATA thanks Congress for enacting Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for the Department of Transportation, providing certainty and avoiding another extended government shutdown. Predictable FAA funding is essential for aviation businesses—ensuring the FAA’s ability to deliver consistent safety oversight, modernize and maintain critical infrastructure, and support the workforce that keeps the national airspace system (NAS) operating safely. NATA also calls on Congress to advance the Aviation Stability Funding Act (H.R. 6086, S. 1045), to protect the NAS from future shutdowns and ensure FAA safety functions remain uninterrupted.”