The US Launches Initiative to Address ATC Shortage

‍DALLAS — The Trump administration has announced a new initiative to increase the number of air traffic controllers following several high-profile plane accidents. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed the plan this week during a visit to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, OK.

Key Elements of the New Initiative

• Academy graduates will receive a 30% increase in their starting salaries
• The FAA will reduce its hiring process from eight steps to five steps
• This streamlining is expected to cut four months off the hiring timeline
• The air traffic controller hiring window will be open from late February to March 17
• Candidates with the highest scores on skills assessment tests will receive priority for the academy

"This staffing shortage has been a known challenge for over a decade, and this administration is committed to solving it," Duffy stated. "The new streamlined hiring process is just the first step to deliver on President Trump's agenda to prioritize the American people's safety and modernize the federal government."

The FAA has "streamlined the hiring process by changing the previous 8-step hiring process to a 5-step process. This change will accelerate the time-to-hire for these critical positions by shaving more than four months off the old process. Eligible candidates must complete the following steps: submit your application through USAJobs, take the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA), and pass medical and security clearances."

Applications must be submitted by Monday, March 17 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Candidates can apply here.

Continuing Previous Efforts

The Biden administration also prioritized FAA hiring, with some success. In 2024, former President Biden signed an FAA reauthorization bill into law, requiring the agency to hire at the maximum level possible at the training academy for the next five years. The bill expanded the center's capacity and included other recruitment and retention provisions.

According to Government Executive, The FAA exceeded its hiring goal for air traffic controllers in fiscal 2024, hiring 1,811 new employees. However, these efforts were made against a backdrop of significant staffing challenges.

Ongoing Staffing Concerns

A 2023 National Airspace System Safety Review Team report found that the FAA's understaffing and overreliance on overtime had created less safe national airspace. The report noted that overtime use was at an all-time high, leading to increased absenteeism, lower productivity, and more fatigue among controllers.

A recent New York Times analysis revealed that over 90% of U.S. air traffic control facilities operate below the FAA's Recommended staffing levels. As part of the administration's mass firing of probationary employees, the FAA removed between 200 and 300 workers, including maintenance mechanics and specialists.

Mike Whitaker, the former FAA Administrator, stepped down ahead of the end of his five-year term when Trump took office. The president has not yet nominated a permanent replacement.

Potential Technology Solutions

The Trump administration is pursuing significant technological changes alongside its hiring initiatives. According to recent reports, the FAA is close to canceling a US$2.4 billion contract previously awarded to Verizon in 2023 and redirecting the work to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network. Airways is corroborating such reporting.

The original Verizon contract was intended to upgrade a critical communications platform that connects different air traffic control facilities and FAA offices. This platform is the backbone of the nation's air traffic control system.

According to a Bloomberg, Musk, who is spearheading the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts as part of the U.S. DOGE Service, recently approved a deal to ship 4,000 Starlink terminals to the FAA. On his social media platform X, Musk claimed that "Starlink terminals are being sent at NO COST to the taxpayer on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity."

While this potential contract shift would test protections against conflicts of interest in government projects, especially given Musk's dual role in government cost-cutting initiatives and as CEO of Starlink's parent company, the technology is being adopted by airlines worldwide.

As of March 2, 2025, three airlines—Qatar Airways (QR), AirBaltic (BT), and Hawaiian Airlines (HA)—have fully integrated Starlink into their fleets, while several others are in the testing or rollout stages.

Tested: On board Europe’s First Starlink-equipped Flight

Airways had the chance to test out the technology with airBaltic (BT), the first European airline to introduce Starlink high-speed internet for free on board. How fast is it?

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