House Approves Final FY24 DOT/FAA Spending Bill

March 6, 2024

By a 339 to 85 vote, the House of Representatives has just approved a six-bill consolidated appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024 that provides funds for the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration for the remainder of the current fiscal year that runs through September. The DOT, FAA and other agencies covered by these six annual funding bills are currently operating under a continuing resolution that expires just after midnight, March 8. The Senate is expected to take up and pass the funding package prior to the upcoming March 8 deadline.
 
As we noted in our previous Airport Alert, the final DOT/FAA spending bill includes $3.35 billion in AIP funding and $532.4 million in supplemental funding, $482.4 million of which is for airport earmarks. The agreement calls for $12.73 billion for FAA operations, which would allow for the hiring of 1,800 new air traffic controllers; $3.19 billion for FAA facilities and equipment; $280 million for research, engineering, and development; and $205.4 million for the Contract Tower Program.
 
Funding for agencies and departments covered by the remaining six annual spending bills that are not part of the package approved today, including DHS/TSA/CBP, expires on March 22. The path forward for those bills is uncertain at this time.
 
In addition to federal spending bills, we are also awaiting action from the Senate this week on a measure that would extend FAA programs and taxes through May 10.  The House approved the FAA extension last week.  FAA programs and taxes also are set to expire on March 8 under a previously approved FAA extension.