WASHINGTON, February 27, 2025 — The following statement is attributable to Airlines for America (A4A):

We applaud Secretary Duffy for acting with urgency to address the longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers by rolling out the first step to deliver on President Trump’s agenda to prioritize safety and modernize systems.

The U.S. is almost 3,000 controllers short at a time when we are seeing record air travel volumes and increased reliance on air cargo shipments, and we are grateful for bold leadership that provides effective, workable solutions.

We appreciate all efforts by President Trump and Secretary Duffy for working to increase efficiency of the NAS and to ensure that aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the U.S. and around the world.