Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025

This bill aims to grow and support the air traffic control workforce. It strengthens the FAA’s college training pipeline, lets program graduates be hired more quickly into controller jobs, and allows them to move into full career status after they reach full performance level. It creates a grant program so colleges can improve courses and buy things like simulators and required tests, with $20 million a year authorized from 2026 to 2031. It also sets up an expert group to modernize FAA and college training and to update the skills test for new controllers (ATSA), with a report due in one year and required follow‑up within six months.

The bill invests in training equipment at FAA facilities, with another $20 million a year from 2026 to 2031, offers incentives to help trainees qualify and to keep experienced controllers, and improves mental health support by creating training for medical providers and Aviation Medical Examiners within 180 days . It also requires a quick report (within 90 days) on airport radar tools to spot drones, balloons, and other non‑cooperative objects, including costs and options for keeping or replacing systems.

• Who is affected:

  • Students in FAA‑partner colleges and current air traffic controllers.
  • FAA facilities and training programs.
  • Aviation Medical Examiners and mental health providers who work with controllers.
  • Certain college ATC instructors, who are added to an existing retirement supplement category.
  • Airports needing radar to detect non‑cooperative flying objects.

• What changes:

  • Faster hiring path for program grads, plus college grants to improve training.
  • An expert committee to update training and the ATSA test, with deadlines for action.
  • Funding for FAA training equipment and new incentives to qualify and retain controllers.
  • New mental health training and a required report on airport radar needs.

• When:

  • Funding: 2026–2031 for college grants and FAA training equipment ($20 million per year for each) .
  • Mental health training course: within 180 days of enactment.
  • Radar report: within 90 days of enactment.
  • Training update report: within 1 year; FAA action or explanation within 180 days after that.