Biden wants to hire 2,000 air traffic controllers in 2025

The Biden administration said Monday it is seeking funding from Congress to hire another 2,000 air traffic controllers in the 2025 budget year after a series of near-miss incidents. A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and, at many facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks to cover staffing shortages. The FAA wants $43m to accelerate the hiring and training of controllers."We need more air traffic controllers and we're hiring as many as we can," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. Staffing issues forced the FAA to extend cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2024 - allowing airlines to fly fewer flights without forfeiting take-off and landing slots. The budget proposes spending $8b over the next five years - beginning with $1b in 2025 - to replace or modernize more than 20 aging air traffic control facilities and 377 critical radar systems.<br/>