FAA Gets $15M Annually to Fix Pilot Mental Health Backlogs and Reduce Stigma

The Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 is a major effort to modernize how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) handles the mental health of pilots and air traffic controllers. Essentially, this bill recognizes that people working high-stress jobs need support, not punishment, and aims to overhaul the medical certification process to reflect that reality. It sets up a massive review process, allocates serious funding, and mandates policy changes designed to encourage critical aviation personnel to seek help without fearing they’ll lose their careers.

The Committee of Experts and the Culture Shift

The core of the bill is the creation of a Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which the FAA must establish within six months of the law’s enactment (SEC. 1). This isn’t just an internal FAA meeting; the committee must include pilots, controllers, aviation medical examiners, mental health professionals, and even peer support organizations. Their job is to spend a year reviewing everything—from how the FAA handles “special issuance” medical certificates for mental health conditions to why pilots avoid getting help in the first place. This review is critical because the current system often forces workers to choose between their mental health and their paycheck.

Once the ARC delivers its findings, the FAA Administrator has 180 days to publish an Action Plan detailing exactly which recommendations they will implement (SEC. 1). Crucially, the bill requires the FAA to update its regulations within two years to actively encourage aviation workers to seek and disclose mental health conditions (SEC. 3). This is a direct attempt to shift the culture from one of fear and secrecy to one of proactive care. If you’re a pilot struggling with anxiety, the goal is to make the process of getting treatment and staying certified much clearer and less punitive.

Clearing the Bureaucratic Traffic Jam

One of the biggest real-world headaches for pilots and controllers dealing with mental health issues is the agonizing wait time for medical certification decisions—the so-called “special issuance” process. This bill tackles that directly by allocating up to $15 million per year from Fiscal Years 2026 through 2029 to the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine (SEC. 5). This money is earmarked to hire more aviation medical examiners, including specialized psychiatrists, and to expand oversight specifically to eliminate the backlog of special issuance requests. For an air traffic controller waiting months for a decision, this funding could mean a much faster return to work after treatment.

Furthermore, the FAA is required to conduct an annual review of the special issuance process (SEC. 4). This review must focus on updating policies to allow more medications and evidence-based treatments to be safely prescribed while still maintaining safety standards. It also mandates enhanced mental health training for Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs). This means the doctor issuing your medical certificate should have a better, more current understanding of mental health treatment, reducing the chance that outdated policies derail a career.

Fighting Stigma and Building Trust

Getting policy right is only half the battle; the other half is getting people to trust the system. The bill addresses this by directing the FAA to spend up to $1.5 million annually (FY 2026–2029) on a public information campaign (SEC. 7). The purpose of this campaign is twofold: to destigmatize seeking mental health care among aviation workers and to improve trust between the FAA and its workforce. This campaign must include materials posted at AME offices and collaborations with airlines and airports to ensure the information reaches everyone.

Finally, the bill requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to conduct a full study on the stigma associated with mental health in aviation, examining how it affects help-seeking behavior and career choices (SEC. 1). This study, due within two years, will provide the data needed to ensure the FAA’s reforms are actually working on the ground. If you’re a new pilot or controller, this bill aims to ensure that the culture you enter is one where seeking help is seen as a sign of responsibility, not a career killer.