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Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The ATC Protection Act would require Congress to approve any plan by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce, replace, or outsource 1% or more of its workforce. Before seeking congressional approval, the FAA Administrator would need to submit a detailed report explaining the rationale and showing how the change would affect the aviation and transportation system. The bill also prohibits the Department of Governmental Efficiency’s (DOGE) administrator from exercising control over the FAA and expressly prevents privatizing or outsourcing the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system away from the FAA. In short, the bill tightens congressional oversight and preserves the FAA’s ATC functions as a federal, non-privatized program.
Key Points
- 1Threshold for congressional oversight: Any plan to cut, replace, or outsource 1% or more of the FAA workforce must receive explicit approval from Congress.
- 2Pre-approval reporting: The FAA must provide a report detailing the rationale for the workforce change and analysis of its impact on aviation and the transportation system before seeking congressional approval.
- 3Governmental Efficiency control prohibition: The Administrator of the Department of Governmental Efficiency may not exercise control over the FAA.
- 4ATC privatization prohibition: The ATC system must not be privatized or outsourced from the FAA, i.e., ATC remains under federal agency control.
- 5Short title: The act is named the Air Traffic Controller Protection Act (ATC Protection Act).
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: FAA employees, particularly air traffic controllers and related staff; FAA leadership and budgeting processes; operational continuity of air traffic services.Secondary group/area affected: Airline and airport operators, pilots, and general traveling public who rely on stable ATC services; Congress and the executive branch responsible for aviation policy and oversight.Additional impacts: Potential effects on FAA modernization or efficiency initiatives due to enhanced legislative oversight; implications for any future workforce reductions or outsourcing strategies within the FAA; legal and administrative considerations surrounding federal control of critical safety infrastructure.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 18, 2025