What Happened
Bipartisan Proposal Aims to Prevent Aviation Disruptions
Congress has introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure that US air traffic controllers and other key FAA workers continue to receive pay during any future government shutdowns. The proposal, called the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, would tap a rarely used $2.6 billion insurance fund to prevent a repeat of the recent 43-day shutdown. The measure has support from the Modern Skies Coalition and major industry groups, including Airlines for America, the National Business Aviation Association, and Boeing. The bill was introduced by Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana and Rep. Sam Graves, Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The FAA warned that staffing shortages could lead to delays and reduced capacity during the shutdown, and the proposal aims to address this risk. The legislation was first reported by AeroTime.