Bill Schuster Hopes to See Privatized ATC Under President-Elect Donald Trump

Bill Schuster, former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has reintroduced his push to separate ATC and state. If President-Elect Donald Trump revives his old policy platform, Schuster’s dreams might just come true.

During the creation of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Bill, Shuster proposed that the agency’s power over air traffic control operations should be transferred to a non-profit organization. He cited the need to modernize technology, improve efficiency, and reduce bureaucratic delays. Shuster argued that a privatized system, funded by user fees instead of federal taxes, could better serve aviation stakeholders and accelerate the implementation of next-generation technologies.

Though the FAA would still have oversight over ATC under Shuster’s bid, lawmakers found the idea too controversial and removed it from the bill. They worry that such a move might prioritize large airlines' interests over smaller airports and rural communities, potentially increasing costs for passengers and limiting access for general aviation users.

Donald Trump’s previous policy proposals agree with Shuster. In 2017, he expressed that the current FAA-run system is outdated, calling it “stuck painfully in the past” and “antiquated.” Trump has emphasized that separating ATC from the FAA would allow for quicker adoption of advanced technologies, such as satellite navigation and digital communication.

President-Elect Donald Trump's 2024 policy platform, known as "Agenda 47," does not specifically detail plans for air traffic control ATC reform or privatization. Still, with the amount of focus placed on expanding infrastructure and reducing government inefficiencies, his previous advocacy for ATC likely remains in place.

"I think we should take it out of government, commercialize it, or make a non-for-profit similar to that was the idea that I had six years ago,” Shuster commented, speaking at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. “I think that's something that needs to be considered again.”

FMI: www.faa.gov