Dear Editor,
A recent column in the News Tribune (COMMENTARY: Privatizing air traffic control would protect travelers from political drama, 11/25) argued that privatizing our air traffic control (ATC) system would shield it from future government shutdowns and help it modernize. But that argument overlooks something fundamental: we have better, more immediate solutions that don’t require upending the whole system.
The recent government shutdown put air traffic controllers in an impossible position — doing essential work without paychecks. That’s unacceptable. But the answer isn’t to privatize the system. Congress (Thank you, Sam Graves!) has introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure controllers are paid during shutdowns. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Trump this summer, invests $12.5 billion in ATC workforce and infrastructure. These are direct, focused solutions that solve the actual problems at hand, that everyone agrees need to be addressed.
As an attorney in Jefferson City, I’ve built my practice on general aviation. Flying directly to small airports throughout the region lets me serve clients on their schedule. That access is critical for my business and for rural communities. I also volunteer with Angel Flight Central, flying people to critical medical care. Rural communities deserve the same medical access as cities, and small airports help to make that possible.
Privatization would undermine that access. Under a privatized system, we would see less investment in long-term resilience, and the limited resources would flow away from our smaller communities in favor of the largest cities.
But we don’t need privatization to solve the shutdown problem or modernize ATC. We need Congress to implement solutions that already exist: ensure controllers are paid during funding lapses, invest in system modernization and build workforce stability. These answers don’t require structural upheaval or privatization.
Congress must act on the solutions available to it. Air traffic controllers, rural businesses and small communities are counting on it.
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2025/dec/17/your-opinion-air-traffic-control-solutions-dont