USCTA Alerts

After narrowly clearing a procedural hurdle, the House of Representatives on, a vote of 217 to 214, has just passed a consolidated appropriations measure that provides funding through September for DOT/FAA as well as the Departments of Defense, State, Labor, Education, Housing, and others covered by five of the final six FY26 funding bills.

As we reported previously, the House last week passed the final four FY26 funding bills – including DOT/FAA, DHS/TSA/CBP, Defense, and Labor-HHS – and packaged them together with two other previously approved measures for the Senate to consider this week.

The U.S. Contract Tower Association today participated in a roundtable discussion on air traffic control modernization headed by House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls (R-TX).

After a day of vigorous debate, the House of Representatives has just approved two separate measures that would fund DOT/FAA, DHS/TSA/CBP, and other federal departments and agencies beyond January 30 for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, which runs through September.

With the clock winding down toward January 30 and the expiration of funding for a large part of the federal government under the terms of a continuing funding resolution approved in mid-November, lawmakers are continuing their push to complete action on all 12 annual funding bills by the end of the month.

The FAA today released a notice of funding opportunity that outlines how contract tower airports can apply for a share of up to $120 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding in Fiscal Year 2026 to upgrade airport-owned contract towers.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee cleared several bills by voice vote including a bipartisan plan to protect federal aviation workers and prevent disruptions in the National Airspace System during a government shutdown.

The Senate passed the ROTOR Act – a top priority for Senate Commerce Committee leaders.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing entitled, “The State of American Aviation”, with FAA Administrator Brian Bedford as the only witness.

The FAA released the NOFO that outlines how airport sponsors can apply for a share of approximately $1 billion in FY26 discretionary funds under the ATP, which was created by the Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).