FAA Plans Nationwide Hiring of 8,900 Air Traffic Controllers by 2028

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is undertaking an aggressive hiring campaign to recruit nearly 9,000 air traffic controllers nationwide by 2028, including 2,000 in 2025, to address critical staffing shortages and manage increasing air traffic and technological advancements. The New York TRACON facility in East Garden City, Long Island, which is currently short by over 100 controllers, is a key focus, with incentives like signing bonuses up to $10,000 and housing assistance to attract candidates. The FAA has streamlined its hiring process, significantly reducing wait times for the controller aptitude exam and increasing applications, with over 1,000 candidates applying this year. Despite these efforts, the agency expects to lose thousands of controllers due to retirements and training attrition, meaning the net increase in staffing will fall short of fully meeting demand. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy emphasized that under President Trump's leadership, these recruitment and retention initiatives, along with planned investments in technology and training facilities, aim to maintain U.S. leadership in aerospace and usher in a "Golden Age of travel." However, concerns remain about the FAA’s aging infrastructure, past operational disruptions, and the continuing challenge to fully staff critical facilities like New York TRACON amid rapidly evolving aviation demands.