Exclusive: The House is delving into the state of the U.S. air traffic control system and what it takes to modernize.
Rep. Troy Nehls, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Aviation Subcommittee, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital that he will have a closed bipartisan dialogue on this issue.
"We will start holding a roundtable with stakeholders to implement this plan," Nehls said in an interview.
It was reportedly caused a power outage of about 90 seconds on its air traffic control screen after the power outage at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Based on real ID documents retained in mail from Americans registered by the deadline
Newark Airport was facing massive delays for eight consecutive days by travelers, United Airlines cancelled routes and staff shortages in Newark, New Jersey on May 6, 2025. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The National Association of Air Traffic Controllers said operators at the Philadelphia terminal controlled the planes reaching the busy New York City regional airport and “had temporarily lost the radar and communicated with the planes they controlled, could not control, could not see, hear or talk to them.”
The main focus of the roundtable discussion was to develop a plan of how to spend $12.5 billion in Housing Transport and Infrastructure Commission approved for air traffic control (ATC) modernization, Niels said.
The funding was marked as ATC as part of the budget settlement process, with Republicans passing a massive bill that was promoted to a priority for the Trump administration.
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Rep. Troy Nehls leads a series of closed conversations about the U.S. air traffic control system, and what it takes to modernize. (Nathan Posner)
"We have $12.5 billion. How will we spend it? Who will spend it? What it needs to cost, should be a priority? So we are attracting these stakeholders, experts from all different fields," Niels said.
“We are attracting these people to learn a lot of this technology, they are the first group to be talked about, you know, what impact we have on fiber.”
He refers to reports that the power outage was caused by a fried copper wire, which Nehls said was an example of an outdated system that ATC has been running.
Rep. Troy Nehls promised to work closely with transport secretary Sean Duffy. (Getty Image)
He said the group's first meeting will include two Republicans and two Democrats, which are scheduled for early June.
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"We're going to meet with new stakeholders to provide guidance. I'm going to do a lot of listening. I'm not going to do a lot of things," Niels said. "So we can make very intentional and wise decisions about how to use taxpayer money to live a modern system. So I think that's a step in the right direction."
Fox News Digital contacts the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.