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ISSUES National Air Traffic Controllers Association | www.natca.org NiW Today 21 Issue FAA Funding Requires Robust Authorization and Appropriations Levels Overview The FAA, like much of the federal government, has faced an unstable and unpredictable funding stream over the last two decades. Funding disruptions and budgetary shortfalls have negatively affected all aspects of the FAA, making it increasingly difficult to maintain the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace Sys- tem (NAS). Even when the FAA is not facing the threat of a shutdown, multiple administrations from both political parties have submitted insufficient budget re- quests to Congress. The FAA's requests have fallen well short of what it needs to adequately address its staffing, modernization, and infrastructure needs. This continues to be one of the most serious challenges facing the FAA and the NAS. Without stable and sufficient funding, the FAA will be hard- pressed to address its controller staffing shortage and maintain capacity, let alone modernize the physical and technological infrastructure of the system while also expanding it for new users including unmanned aircraft systems, advanced air mobility systems, commercial space launches, and supersonic aircraft. NATCA strongly supports the development of a Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) and thanks Congress for providing a historic $12.5 billion downpayment to replace outdated equipment and technology. The FAA will need an additional $20 billion in dedicated funding to complete the entire program. What's the Difference Between FAA Authorization and Appropriations? Simply defined, FAA authorization sets the policies on a wide range of issues related to aviation, establishing the rules and details for programs within the Agency. Conversely, FAA appropriations provide the Agency with funding to pay for those programs and activities. When there is a lapse in appropriations, the FAA cannot spend the federal government's money. That shuts down most programs and activities. When there is a lapse in authorization, the FAA is not permitted to perform most of its functions. The 119th Congress will not address FAA authorization, which passed in 2024 and does not expire until 2029. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 The FAA is currently operating under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law in May 2024. This five-year reauthorization act authorized the FAA to continue to operate, while also establishing, continuing, and/or modifying FAA programs, activities, and policy priorities. It also authorized the collection of taxes into and expenditure of funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (Trust Fund). Significantly, this law required the FAA, for the first time, to conduct maximum hiring of new air traffic controller trainees for five years (the duration of this bill) and to adopt the Collaborative Resource Workgroup's (CRWG) controller staffing model that NATCA and the FAA's Air Traffic Organization collaboratively developed. The law also required the FAA to use the CRWG Certified Professional Controller (CPC) staffing targets as the basis for its Controller Workforce Plan (CWP). FAA reauthorization was one of NATCA's top legislative priorities and NATCA is thankful to all members of Congress who championed, supported, and voted in favor of the bill. FAA Appropriations The FAA's funding stream has been hampered by the lack of "regular order" in the annual appropriations process. In fact, 1996 was the last time all 12 appropriations bills were enacted by the start of the new fiscal year and Congress rarely passes a stand-alone Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill – which funds the FAA. Over the past two decades, Congress instead has used temporary, short-term funding measures called continuing resolutions (CRs), as well as omnibus spending packages (which combine multiple appropriations bills together) or some combination of the two, to fund the government. Unfortunately, funding for fiscal year (FY) 2026 was disrupted by two shutdowns, including the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. During the 43-day government shutdown, controllers and other aviation safety professionals received one partial paycheck and then missed two consecutive full paychecks. Asking these dedicated, patriotic American workers to work full time for more than a month without pay was simply not sustainable and created substantial distractions for individuals who are already engaged in extremely stressful work. The financial and mental strain of shutdowns increase

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