The Latest From Washington
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: FY26 DHS Appropriations Report Released, More Good News for Airports
In advance of consideration of the FY26 funding bill for DHS by the full House Appropriations Committee tomorrow morning, the Committee released its FY26 report.
06/11/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Lawmakers Question Bedford about ATC Reform and 1,500-Hour Rule
Lawmakers questioned Bryan Bedford about air traffic control reform, the 1,500-hour pilot training rule, and small community issues at a Senate Commerce Committee nomination hearing.
06/11/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House DHS Subcommittee Unveils FY26 Funding Recommendations; Key Priorities Addressed
The House Appropriations Subcommittee unveiled its proposed FY26 spending bill for DHS and its component agencies, including TSA and CBP.
06/08/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Senate Commerce Committee Proposes $12.5 billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization
The Senate Commerce Committee released their proposal for the budget reconciliation bill, which includes $12.5 billion to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system.
06/06/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: President Trump Issues Executive Orders to Promote New Entrants and Drone Security
President Trump issued three executive orders aimed at addressing safety and security concerns associated with UAS, or drones, and promoting the integration and development of UAS, eVTOL aircraft, and supersonic aircraft into the NAS.
06/06/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: AAAE Responds to FAA's Request for Feedback on Removal of Aircraft Registration Data from Public Dissemination
AAAE submitted comments to the FAA in response to the agency’s request for feedback on implementation of a provision in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that allows private aircraft owners to remove certain personally identifiable information (PII) from the aircraft registration database.
06/05/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: House Aviation Hearing on FAA Reauthorization Law: Safety, ATC Modernization and GA Fees Top Issues
The Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing titled "FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024: Stakeholder Perspectives on Implementation One Year Later."
06/04/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: FAA Acting Administrator Rocheleau Discusses Administration’s FY26 Budget Request
FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau discussed the administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request and its plans to hire more controllers and upgrade the aging air traffic control system during a hearing today before the House transportation appropriations subcommittee.
06/04/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: White House Releases More Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Details
The Trump administration released additional details regarding the proposed FY26 budgets for federal departments and agencies, including DOT/FAA and DHS/TSA/CBP.
05/30/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Deadline Extended: Please Contact Your Senators Today to Support Airport Funding Priorities in TSA!
Please get in touch with your Senators over the Memorial Day recess and ask them to sign a letter requesting restoration of funding for TSA’s LEO reimbursement program and state and local canine teams in the FY26 DHS Appropriations bill.
05/27/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: TSA Testifies About FY26 Priorities: Staff Reductions, Privatization, and Technologies Were Discussed
Acting TSA Administrator Ha McNeill briefly testified before the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee about the agency’s priorities.
05/20/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: AAAE Submits Comments on EPA’s Proposed 2026 MSGP for Stormwater Discharges
AAAE submitted comments to the EPA on the agency’s proposed multi-sector general permit (MSGP), which would, once finalized, outline the terms and conditions for authorizing certain airports to discharge industrial stormwater.
05/20/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Urgent Request: Please Contact Your Senator Today to Support Airport Funding Priorities in TSA!
Please contact your Senator ASAP and ask your elected official to sign a letter requesting restoration of funding for TSA’s law enforcement officer (LEO) reimbursement program and state and local canine teams in the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
05/19/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Lawmakers Question Acting CBP Commissioner about FY26 Budget Needs, Officer Shortfalls, and Declining Travel
Acting CBP Commissioner Pete Flores testified before the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee about the agency's fiscal year 2026 budget request and reconciliation needs.
05/15/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Lawmakers Advocate for Small Community Programs
During a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation today, several lawmakers voiced their support for the Essential Air Service and FAA Contract Tower Programs.
05/15/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Congressional Committees Hold Hearing on Status of FAA Reauthorization Law on One-Year Anniversary
Both the Senate Commerce and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees held hearings this week to examine the status of the FAA Reauthorization law one year after its passage.
05/15/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Lawmakers Question DOT Secretary Duffy About Newark and the Status of Grants
Lawmakers questioned DOT Secretary Sean Duffy about recent incidents at Newark and the status of grants during a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.
05/14/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: EPA to Maintain Biden-era Drinking Water Standards for PFOA/PFOS Chemicals
The EPA announced that the agency intends to maintain the current national drinking water standards for two PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, which have been included in AFFF that the FAA has required airports to use for decades.
05/14/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Further Guidance on AIP Changes from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act
The FAA released three new “Reauthorization Program Guidance Letters” (R-PGL) that implement or provide guidance to field offices on how to interpret changes to the AIP made by Congress through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
05/13/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Ways and Means Committee Releases Reconciliation Proposal
The House Ways and Means Committee today released the tax portion of the reconciliation bill, and the measure appears to retain tax exemptions for private activity bonds (PABs) and municipal bonds.
05/12/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: DOT Secretary Duffy Calls for Tens of Billions of Dollars to Upgrade ATC System
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy at a press conference today at DOT Headquarters attended by AAAE and leaders from across the aviation industry called for investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize the nation’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) system over the next three to four years.
05/08/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Secretary Noem Testifies at House Appropriations Hearing; TSA Cuts and REAL ID Discussed
Secretary Noem testified before the House Appropriations DHS Subcommittee this morning.
05/06/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: Reminder: AAAE Urges Airports to Share Regulatory Reform Priorities with DOT
As a reminder, AAAE is urging our airport members to submit comments in response to the DOT's recent “request for information” seeking feedback from industry stakeholders on identifying regulations, guidance, paperwork requirements, and any other regulatory obligations that should be modified or repealed.
05/02/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: FY 2026 Trump Budget Proposes Increased Aviation Spending Amid Deep Cuts Elsewhere
The Office of the President sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders outlining the Trump administration’s proposed discretionary spending levels for fiscal year 2026 (FY26).
05/02/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: Senate Holds Hearing for CBP Commissioner Nominee Rodney Scott
The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to consider Rodney Scott's nomination as the next CBP Commissioner.
04/30/2025
