DOT Secretary Duffy Calls for Major Overhaul of ATC and Airspace Technology

Duffy Calls for Swift Action To Modernize NAS and ATC

Secretary Duffy pushing for aviation infrastructure overhaul within four years

Secretary Duffy at the podium in a March 11 press conference — Still image from YouTube live cast of DOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s March 11 press briefing

March 12, 2025

The U.S. Department of Transportation is adopting the NTSB’s recommendations regarding helicopter restrictions near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) and wants to put forward an ambitious plan to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS) and air traffic control (ATC) technology. These statements were made by DOT Secretary Sean Duffy during a press conference on March 11, following the NTSB’s preliminary report release and media briefing by NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy on the midair collision near KDCA in January.

“Thirty-six hours after the crash, we restricted this airspace, and we’re going to continue with those restrictions,” said Duffy. “That would be from Haynes point to the Wilson Bridge...the area right off of Runway 33 where the crash happened. We’re going to have a notice to airmen with the specific guidelines on how they’re going to fly this route. I talked to Secretary [of Defense] Pete Hegseth earlier today about giving the DOD a route around this restricted airspace, which I think the military is going to be fine with.”

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