Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants Congress to open the checkbook for President Donald Trump's plan to modernize the country's air traffic control system. And he's not being subtle about it.

In a post on X on Saturday, Duffy framed the effort as a "national safety priority" that shouldn't get bogged down in partisan fights. "Trump is leading the charge, and now we need Congress to step up with the resources to build a state-of-the-art system," he said.

Duffy also shared a video alongside the post, noting that Trump had told him to prioritize air traffic control modernization even before the January 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people.

Duffy Puts the Squeeze on Congress

Duffy gave credit where it was due, praising the bipartisan support the initiative has attracted. But he made clear that good intentions aren't enough.

"When we have a president who's willing to lean in and lead on an issue like this, and then if you look at the Congress, that you have both Democrats and Republicans who understand how important this is," Duffy said.

Then came the pointed question: "How long are we going to wait, America and Congress?"

He said lawmakers need to "lean in" and stressed that modernization is a bipartisan responsibility. In other words, everyone agrees the system needs fixing. The holdup is the money.

The FAA's Rough Week

The timing of Duffy's push isn't random. The FAA lifted its nationwide ground stop on Friday after a nearly five-hour telecom outage disrupted departures across the country.

Duffy blamed aging equipment for the disruption, while Markwayne Mullin said officials found "zero evidence" of a cyberattack.

Against that backdrop, Duffy is seeking an additional $50 billion from Congress. He warned that funding shortfalls could lead to further disruptions down the line.

Hiring Push and Outdated Tech

The administration has been trying to staff up as well. In August, Duffy said the FAA had hired more than 2,000 air traffic controllers through Trump's recruitment push targeting gamers, reaching 94% of its hiring goal.

Earlier this year, he highlighted progress in replacing outdated air traffic control technology, including paper flight strips and floppy disks, while seeking additional funding for software upgrades.

So the pitch to Congress is simple: the president is on board, both parties say they get it, and the system is running on gear that belongs in a museum. Now it's up to lawmakers to write the check.