Ensures the FAA can continue critical operations using existing funds during budget delays, maintaining stable funding for aviation programs and projects.
Jerry Moran
Senator
KS
The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 ensures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can continue essential programs and projects using existing funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund during delays in budget approvals. It allows the FAA to maintain operations, facilities, research, and airport grants at the previous year's funding levels until a new budget is enacted, preventing disruptions due to funding lapses. This act ensures continuous funding for the FAA even when regular appropriations are delayed.
Aviation Funding Stability Act: Using Trust Fund Reserves to Prevent FAA Shutdowns
This bill sets up a backup plan for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). If Congress doesn't pass a budget on time, the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 allows the FAA to tap into the existing Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The goal is to keep essential aviation services running smoothly, even during a government funding gap.
Tapping the Reserve Tank: How It Works
Think of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund like a dedicated reserve account, funded mainly by taxes on airline tickets and fuel. This bill gives the FAA permission to dip into that account if its regular funding (appropriations) gets held up. There's a key rule, though: the FAA can only spend at the same rate as the previous fiscal year, as outlined in Section 2. So, while it keeps the lights on for core functions like operations, facilities, equipment, research, and airport grants, it's not a blank check for new initiatives during a shutdown. This temporary funding bridge stays in place until a proper budget is passed.
Avoiding Gridlock: What This Means for Flights and Projects
Remember past government shutdowns that caused airport delays and headaches? This act aims to prevent that specific chaos for air travel. It means FAA operations – think air traffic control, safety inspections, and essential maintenance – could continue without interruption, funded by the Trust Fund as per Section 2. Funding for existing airport improvement projects and research could also keep flowing, based on the prior year's levels. It's about ensuring stability and preventing the aviation system from grinding to a halt just because of a budget standoff in Washington.
The Nuts and Bolts: Accounting and Limitations
Once a real budget is approved, any money spent from the Trust Fund during the gap gets properly accounted for and charged back to the correct budget lines, as specified in the bill. It’s essentially an advance to maintain continuity, not extra money. Section 2 also clarifies this backup plan won't kick in if other laws already provide stopgap funding or specifically block money for certain programs. While the act ensures continuity, relying strictly on last year's spending levels might mean some newer priorities or necessary adjustments could be temporarily paused if a funding gap drags on.