FAA unveils new air traffic controller hiring plan after chief warned system was ‘chronically understaffed’

By Fox News · Fox News

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unveiled an aggressive new workforce overhaul on Friday aimed at tackling chronic staffing shortages, excessive overtime and aging technology across the nation’s air traffic control system. The newly released 2026-2028 Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan calls for hiring thousands of new controllers, modernizing scheduling systems and replacing aging infrastructure across the National Airspace System. The plan comes months after FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warned lawmakers that air traffic control towers would "never" reach full staffing levels if the agency continued operating under its current structure. "We’ll never catch up," Bedford said during a December congressional hearing . "The system is designed to be chronically understaffed." PRIVATIZE THE TSA: 3 STEPS TO BETTER SERVICE AND ENHANCED SECURITY The overhaul also comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety following a series of airport disruptions, delays and close-call incidents that have raised fresh questions about whether the nation’s air traffic control infrastructure is keeping pace with growing travel demand. "This forward-thinking plan delivers on President Donald J. Trump’s promise to provide the American flying public with a world-class air traffic control system, and that starts with highly trained, professional air traffic controllers," Bedford said in a statement. "We can’t continue to operate the same way and expect better results," he added. "We’re changing how we hire, train and schedule our controller workforce — and providing them with the state-of-the-art tools they need to succeed." AI AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM PROMISES FEWER FLIGHT DELAYS The FAA said the plan identifies a full staffing target of 12,563 certified professional controllers based on forecast demand. As of April 2026, the agency said roughly 11,000 certified professional controllers were deployed across more than 300 air traffic facilities. The agency also has an additional 4…