CTP Applauds DOT Plan to Boost FAA Staffing

Arlington, VA (February 27, 2025)–Today, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new plan to “supercharge” the hiring of air traffic controllers, addressing a decade-long staffing shortage. The measures include prioritizing merit-based selection at the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Academy, increasing starting salaries, and streamlining the hiring process.

Jackson Shedelbower, executive director of the D.C.-based Center for Transportation Policy (CTP), issued the following statement in response: 

“The announcement made today by the U.S. Department of Transportation should be applauded. Currently, more than 90 percent of air traffic control towers nationwide are understaffed, which poses safety and reliability concerns for travelers. The staffing shortage at the government-run FAA is a chronic problem that the previous Biden administration—and its transportation chief Pete Buttigieg—failed to address. It’s good to see that the current DOT Secretary Sean Duffy is making it a priority.”