The Latest From Washington
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
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Transportation Committee Approves Budget Reconciliation Proposal Providing $12.5 Billion in Funding for ATC Modernization
The House Transportation Committee advanced their section of the larger reconciliation bill, which includes $12.5B to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system in unusual party-line vote of 36-30.
04/30/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Transportation Committee Releases Bill Text Including $15 Billion for ATC Modernization
The House Transportation Committee released legislative text for their portion of the budget reconciliation bill scheduled to be marked up on Wednesday.
04/29/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Committee Advances Bill to Fund 5,000 New CBP Officers in its Budget Reconciliation Border Package
After a spirited discussion by the Democrats, the House Homeland Security Committee favorably advanced its $69 billion homeland security recommendations on a party-line vote (18-14) as part of the House’s broader budget reconciliation efforts.
04/29/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Updates Grant Agreements; Grants Expected to Resume Soon
AAAE wanted to provide an update on the status of grant funding provided to airport sponsors by the FAA under the Airport Improvement Program and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
04/28/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Transportation Committee Proposes $15 billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will propose $15 billion to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system as part of their scheduled Wednesday markup of budget reconciliation legislation.
04/28/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: House Committee Funds 5,000 New CBP Officers in its Budget Reconciliation Border Package
The House Homeland Security Committee released its budget reconciliation text, totaling about $69 billion.
04/27/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Changes to TSA Leadership
Yesterday, TSA announced the appointment of Ha Nguyen McNeill as the agency’s Deputy Administrator.
04/22/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: AAAE Urges Airports to Share Regulatory Reform Priorities with DOT
AAAE is urging our airport members to submit comments in response to the DOT's recent RFI seeking feedback from industry stakeholders on identifying regulations, guidance, paperwork requirements, and any other regulatory obligations that should be modified or repealed.
04/16/2025
Airport Alert
Airport Alert: Aviation Stakeholders Urge Congress to Upgrade Air Traffic Control System
A coalition of more than 45 aviation industry stakeholders including AAAE and USCTA sent a letter to key lawmakers that outlines the industry’s recommendations to modernize the Air Traffic Control System.
04/15/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: House Hearing on Ways to Improve U.S. Travel System to Prepare for Significant International Events
The House Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee held a hearing titled “America on the Global Stage: Examining Efforts to Secure and Improve the U.S. Travel System and Prepare for Significant Travel Events”.
04/08/2025
Airport Alert
Hearing Report: House Aviation Subcommittee Reviews Airport Funding, Safety and Regulatory Issues
The House Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss airport infrastructure investments and regulatory challenges after passage of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act.
04/08/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Guidance on AIP Changes from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act
The FAA released two “Reauthorization Program Guidance Letters” (R-PGL) that implement or provide guidance to field offices on how to interpret changes to the Airport Improvement Program made by Congress through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
04/08/2025
Regulatory Alert
Regulatory Alert: DOT Requests Feedback on Implementation of Deregulation Initiatives
The DOT published a RFI that seeks comments and information to assist the department in identifying regulations, guidance, paperwork requirements, and any other regulatory obligations that can be modified or repealed.
04/04/2025
