Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a sweeping package of incentives on May 1 to tackle the United States’ chronic air traffic controller shortage, pledging to “supercharge” the hiring and retention pipeline and close a 3,000-controller staffing gap.
While the United States currently has enough certified controllers to maintain safety, Duffy said, the system is operating under significant stress, with many controllers working six-day weeks and mandatory overtime. The aim of the package, he said, is not only to keep operations running smoothly but also to reduce pressure on current staff and accelerate the onboarding of recruits.
“Today’s actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both the retention and hiring side of the equation–bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines,” Duffy said in a statement.
The initiative includes a series of financial incentives to attract new candidates and encourage experienced personnel to remain in the field. FAA Academy graduates who complete their initial qualification training will receive a $5,000 bonus. Those who agree to work at one of 13 hard-to-staff facilities, including locations such as Albuquerque, will be eligible for an additional $10,000.
To retain veteran talent, the FAA will offer a lump-sum payment equal to 20 percent of base pay for each year a retirement-eligible controller under the mandatory retirement age of 56 chooses to stay on the job.
Besides financial rewards, the administration is working to streamline key parts of the hiring process. Duffy said the FAA is bringing in additional medical professionals and security personnel to accelerate candidate clearances, which in the past could delay onboarding by as much as a year.
As part of the initiative, the FAA is also expanding its recruitment of former military air traffic controllers. A new direct-hire authority will allow FAA managers to bypass the traditional federal hiring process and place qualified veterans into preferred roles more quickly. These military veterans will also receive priority for assignments at mid-size and smaller facilities that offer higher pay and faster advancement.
FAA officials said the March campaign generated more than 8,300 high-scoring candidates, many of whom have already moved into the next phases of the hiring process.
“Less than 45 days after the announcement closed, one of the first applicants already has an Academy start date in early June. This stellar work by our team to accelerate this process is a clear sign that this Administration is leading in a profound way to transform our aviation system.”
Duffy said the administration is preparing to roll out a separate plan next week to modernize outdated air traffic control infrastructure, including upgrades to towers and radar systems.
The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s remarks at an April 30 Cabinet meeting, in which he called the nation’s current air traffic systems “obsolete” and hinted that major contractors such as Raytheon and IBM are being considered for the modernization push.
“We want to put a brand new air traffic control system in,” Trump said.
