DOT Boosts Air Traffic Controller Pay and Cuts Hiring Time in New Recruitment Push

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is once again focusing on solving the ongoing air traffic controller (ATC) shortage in the United States.

Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy on Thursday announced a new plan to “supercharge” the hiring of air traffic controllers during a visit to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.

The plan includes a 30% increase in starting salaries for those who attend the academy and reduces the current eight-step hiring process to five steps, a change Duffy said will cut more than four months from the timeline.

“This staffing shortage has been a known challenge for over a decade, and this administration is committed to solving it. The new streamlined hiring process is just the first step to deliver on President Trump’s agenda to prioritize the American people’s safety and modernize the federal government,” Duffy said Thursday.

The window for hiring for ATCs is open now through March 17.

A shortage of ATCs remains one of the biggest challenges facing the U.S. travel industry. Staffing shortfalls have caused nationwide flight delays and cancellations in recent months, including a stretch at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) that affected more than 300,000 United Airlines passengers.

Airlines for America (A4A) estimates the U.S. is currently about 3,000 controllers short, despite the FAA exceeding its ATC hiring goals last year. The shortage comes at a time when the industry is experiencing record travel volumes.