FAA Must Update Mental Health Rules and Fund $13.7 Million for New Flight Doctors Under New Aviation Act

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 is a major push to modernize how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) handles the mental health of pilots and air traffic controllers. Essentially, this bill tells the FAA to ditch the outdated rules and create a system that encourages, rather than punishes, aviation workers for seeking help. Specifically, Section 2 gives the FAA two years to update Part 67 regulations to encourage seeking treatment and appropriate disclosure of mental health conditions.

Clearing the Runway for Help

For years, the biggest hurdle for pilots and controllers dealing with mental health issues has been the fear of losing their medical certificate—and their livelihood—if they admit they need help. This bill takes aim at that stigma. Section 6 authorizes $1.5 million annually from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2028 for a public information campaign designed to reduce shame and build trust in the support systems available to these critical workers. This isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about safety. If the people flying the planes and guiding traffic feel safe getting treatment, the entire system benefits.

Fixing the Flight Doctor Bottleneck

Perhaps the most practical change for airmen waiting in medical limbo is the funding boost for the FAA’s medical office. When a pilot or controller needs a "special issuance"—the process for getting medical clearance when a condition exists—they often face massive delays. Section 4 tackles this head-on by setting aside a dedicated $13.74 million annually for three years (FY 2026–2028) specifically to hire and train more Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) and specialized psychiatrists. This money is also earmarked to clear out the huge backlog of special medical requests currently jamming up the Office of Aerospace Medicine. For a pilot waiting months to get back in the cockpit, this funding is a direct investment in their paycheck.

Annual Check-Ups for Medical Policy

Section 3 mandates that the FAA Administrator conduct an annual review of all policies and guidance related to that “special issuance” process. The goal is to keep things current. This annual check-up must look at approving more mental health medications that are safe for airmen to use and improving the mental health training AMEs receive. Crucially, the FAA must also look at whether they can delegate more authority to those AMEs to speed up the process locally, rather than sending everything up the chain to headquarters. This moves the system from a static, fear-based model to a dynamic, treatment-friendly one.

The Fine Print: Accountability

While the bill is full of good intentions and specific funding, it also builds in a layer of accountability. Section 5 requires the FAA to implement recommendations from the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee within two years. Similarly, Section 2 requires the FAA to integrate recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding workforce mental health. If the FAA Administrator chooses not to implement any of these recommendations, they can’t just ignore them. They must send a formal, written explanation justifying that decision to the appropriate Congressional committees (Section 2 and Section 5). This ensures that if the FAA drags its feet or rejects expert advice, Congress gets the memo.