The FAA’s aging systems are no longer able to meet the growing demands of the aviation industry

Government Accountability Office report highlights alarming concerns about the FAA 's aging infrastructure.

The GAO ’s investigation was prompted by a January 2023 shutdown of the national airspace.

The aging systems are increasingly prone to breakdowns and malfunctions, leading to higher chances of delays, inefficiencies, and — worst of all — safety risks.

The FAA faces a serious backlog in updating these systems, including its NextGen Air Traffic Control ( ATC ) system.

GAO 's recommendations aim to improve the management and oversight of the FAA ’s Air Traffic Control ( ATC ) modernization projects.

The goal is to ensure that investments in these projects are well managed, properly allocated, and effectively monitored.

In many cases, the FAA has failed to establish clear baselines, goals, or budgets, making it difficult to measure progress.