U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has launched the “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” campaign, introducing a $1 billion funding initiative aimed at making airport terminals more accommodating for families during travel. The announcement comes as the holiday travel season approaches, a period known for increased passenger volume and added stress for families.
The campaign seeks to address common challenges faced by families in airports, such as the lack of dedicated spaces for young children, exercise equipment, nursing areas for mothers, and healthy food options. The new funding is intended to encourage airports to create or enhance family-friendly resources in their terminals. Possible projects include building children’s play or exercise areas, installing mothers’ rooms or nursing pods, reconfiguring security checkpoints with family screening lanes, and constructing sensory rooms designed for children with special needs.
At the launch event in Washington, D.C., Secretary Duffy was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Paul Saladino (Physician Nutrition Specialist), Isabel Brown (content creator and mother), and Luke Saunders (CEO of Farmer’s Fridge). In addition to infrastructure improvements funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), officials emphasized working with airports and private partners to expand access to nutritious food options.
“Bringing about a Golden Age in travel has to involve making the family travel experience happier and healthier. Today’s announcement demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to enacting a Family First agenda and improving the lives of the American people,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
“Everyone who passes through an airport in this country should have access to fresh, whole foods,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. “Secretary Duffy and I are working to ensure our airports set the standard for a future where healthy eating is part of daily life—travel days included.”
Healthy grab-and-go options like those provided by Farmer’s Fridge are becoming more common in airports nationwide as travelers seek out fresher meal choices while on-the-go.
Funding for these initiatives comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Airport Terminal Program, which supports modernization efforts at airports across the United States as well as upgrades at air traffic control facilities.
Airports interested in applying for funds must submit eligible projects by January 15, 2026 according to criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
