Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced $870 million in Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grants funding runway improvements, safety upgrades, and family-friendly infrastructure at airports in 44 states and two U.S. territories on Aug. 4.
The investment represents one of the largest single-day Airport Improvement Program announcements in recent FAA history, according to the Department of Transportation. The grants directly affect air travel safety and infrastructure quality for hundreds of millions of travelers.
The FAA Airport Improvement Program is a long-standing competitive federal grant program funded through aviation excise taxes and general revenue. Eligible projects include runway resurfacing and extension, taxiway improvements, lighting upgrades, terminal safety enhancements, and accessibility improvements, according to the FAA.
The inclusion of family-friendly infrastructure among funded project categories reflects a DOT push to make airports more accommodating for traveling families, including nursing rooms and children’s play areas, the department said.
Individual grant amounts and recipient airports span the spectrum from major commercial hubs handling millions of passengers annually to smaller regional and general aviation airports that serve as economic lifelines for rural communities.
The grants are part of the administration’s broader infrastructure investment and aviation safety agenda, DOT said. The program predates the current administration but has been highlighted as a priority under Secretary Duffy’s leadership.
Airport operators must provide matching funds for most Airport Improvement Program grants, meaning the $870 million in federal investment leverages additional state and local spending on aviation infrastructure improvements.