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FAA Struggles With 75% Obsolete Systems, Floppy Disk Reliance; Congress and Trump Plan Overhaul

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Updated May 7, 2025, 10:06 PM

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is grappling with an outdated air traffic control system that is impacting the workforce and air travel safety. According to the Government Accountability Office, about 75% of the FAA's 138 air-traffic systems are either obsolete or difficult to maintain. Some critical systems still rely on floppy disks, underscoring the urgent need for modernization. The U.S. Transportation Secretary has announced plans to implement an air traffic control infrastructure package, while Congress is moving to address the ongoing air traffic controller shortage, which has recently caused operational disruptions such as the Newark airport meltdown. Airline CEOs have expressed support for a Trump administration proposal to invest tens of billions of dollars to overhaul the system. Critics have accused the previous Biden administration and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg of neglecting the issue, focusing instead on social and linguistic changes within aviation terminology. The modernization effort is seen as crucial to resolving the FAA's systemic problems and improving air travel safety.

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