Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025

Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 seeks to revise FAA regulations to better support aviation workers who disclose a mental health diagnosis or symptoms. The bill directs the FAA to update rules within two years to encourage people in aviation roles to seek help and to disclose mental health conditions. It also expands stakeholder consultation (including unions representing air traffic controllers and pilots, aviation medical examiners, and other relevant groups), adds reporting requirements related to mental health research and best practices, and mandates implementation of recommended approaches from prior rulemaking groups and committees. The act emphasizes annual reviews of the mental health-related issuance process for pilots and air traffic controllers, with goals like expanding safe medications, improving examiner training, and potentially delegating more authority to aviation medical examiners. It also appropriates funds to hire additional aviation medical examiners, supports backlog reduction for special issuance cases, and funds public information campaigns to reduce stigma around seeking mental health care in the aviation community. In short, the bill aims to normalize seeking mental health care among aviation professionals, streamline and modernize the process for medical clearances related to mental health, and dedicate resources to expand the workforce and reduce delays, while ensuring ongoing oversight and stakeholder input.