US Transportation Secretary Seeks $50 Billion Emergency Fund to Modernise Air Traffic Control System

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged Congress to approve $50 billion in emergency funding to modernise the country's ageing air traffic control system following a nationwide flight disruption on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Duffy described the situation as an emergency and called for immediate financial support from Congress.

"This is an emergency situation. I want Congress to give us emergency funding. I want $50 billion," he said.

Duffy warned that the country's air traffic control infrastructure relies on outdated equipment, including old switches, routers and technology dating back several decades.

He said the system is increasingly struggling to handle heavy data loads, raising the risk of further disruptions unless it is upgraded quickly.

On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide suspension of aircraft departures after technical problems affected radar and communication systems used for air traffic control.

The disruption threw thousands of flight schedules into disarray, leaving passengers stranded at airports across the country.

Although US airspace was reopened several hours later, Duffy warned that it would take time for flight operations to return fully to normal.

According to a Reuters report, the Trump administration had previously sought $30.1 billion to upgrade the country's ageing airports and air traffic control infrastructure.

However, following Friday's disruption, Duffy indicated that the administration now wants to increase the proposed funding to $50 billion.

He stressed that modernising the country's critical aviation infrastructure should not be treated as a partisan issue, but rather as a matter of national interest.

The proposed funding is expected to support efforts to replace outdated technology and strengthen the reliability of the country's air traffic control network.