Bolen Urges Congress: ‘Act Now to Ensure Aviation Keeps America Moving Safely’
Washington, DC, Nov. 19, 2025 – With the federal government reopened but another critical funding deadline looming, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today urged Congress to pass legislation to ensure the aviation system functions safely and efficiently during a government shutdown, and to refocus on modernizing the air traffic control system.
In written testimony submitted for the record to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation hearing, “Flying on Empty: How Shutdowns Threaten Air Safety, Travel and the Economy,” Bolen cited the significant impact the record 43-day government shutdown had on business aviation, a vital economic engine, a key component of the nation’s transportation system and a source of more than 1 million American jobs.
“The shutdown impacted an industry that serves as a lifeline to rural economies, provides emergency medical transportation and delivers humanitarian aid in times of need,” he wrote. “It stalled critical (Federal Aviation Administration) FAA work that impacted business and general aviation safety oversight, certification, training and operations.”
The most severe impacts occurred on Nov. 6, when the FAA implemented an Emergency Order to reduce all flight operations, including commercial and business aircraft operations, at 40 U.S. airports. Just days later, on Nov. 10, the FAA implemented additional restrictions, banning non-scheduled operations at 12 airports, disproportionately impacting business aviation.
Bolen emphasized that national airspace is a “public resource, open to all” and that business aviation did its part by complying with the emergency order, and voluntarily avoiding operations at the nation’s busiest airports whenever possible. With the current short-term funding agreement set to expire on Jan. 30, 2026, Bolen urged lawmakers to bring funding stability to the nation’s aviation system.
Passage of a full-year FY2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, and long-term funding stability legislation such as the ‘Funding Stability Act of 2025,’ or ‘the Aviation Funding Solvency Act,’ he continued, would “ensure user-funded aviation services continue in the event of another government shutdown.
“Ending the shutdown was an essential first step,” Bolen said. “Next, Congress must establish funding stability to ensure aviation services continue in the event of another government shutdown and return focus to modernizing the air traffic control system to maximize safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System and strengthen the resilience of the American economy.”
The Nov. 19 hearing was convened by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation.
Those testifying at the hearing included National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels; former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, president and CEO of Airlines for America; and Jim Viola, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
