WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmembers Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today led several of their colleagues seeking answers from the Trump administration on growing problems at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The letter is signed by Congressmembers Pou, Larsen, Cohen, Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Rob Menendez (D-NJ-08), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12). Pou and Cohen also help lead Democrats on the House’s Aviation Subcommittee.
“Among the various challenges plaguing Newark Airport, reports indicate that air traffic controllers temporarily lost radar and communications with aircraft at Newark Airport last week for over a minute. The flying public must feel confident in the safety of our ATC system and that they will reach their destinations without interruption. That confidence has been shaken time and time again over the past months,” the members write the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Over the past few days, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and thousands of others are delayed for hours, wreaking havoc for travelers at one of America’s largest airports.
The text of the members’ letter is below.
Dear Acting Administrator Rocheleau:
We write to express our concern regarding the significant flight disruptions and air traffic control (ATC) challenges impacting the safety of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Newark Airport serves almost 50 million passengers annually and is a major economic driver in the region, supporting tens of thousands of jobs. Over the past few days, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and thousands of others are delayed for hours, wreaking havoc for travelers at one of the country’s largest airports.
Furthermore, it is our understanding that these stoppages were caused by multiple historic issues at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, including failures of outdated ATC technology and insufficient air traffic controller staffing.2 Among the various challenges plaguing Newark Airport, reports indicate that air traffic controllers temporarily lost radar and communications with aircraft at Newark Airport last week for over a minute. The flying public must feel confident in the safety of our ATC system and that they will reach their destinations without interruption. That confidence has been shaken time and time again over the past months.
To gain further clarity into what led to these ongoing challenges at Newark Airport and to improve conditions for and the safety of those traveling through the surrounding airspace, we request responses to the following questions as soon as possible, but no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025:
1. Has the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined the root cause of last week’s telecommunications and radar outage at the Philadelphia TRACON? How does your agency plan to reduce the likelihood of future telecommunications losses at the airport?
2. Were any of the ATC technology or equipment that failed last week previously identified by FAA as needing to be replaced or updated?
3. In response to the latest disruptions at EWR, the FAA announced several actions, including:
a. adding three new, high-bandwidth telecommunications connections between the New York-based Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) and the Philadelphia TRACON;
b. replacing copper telecommunications connections with updated fiberoptic technology;
c. deploying a temporary backup system to the Philadelphia TRACON to provide redundancy during the transition to a more reliable fiberoptic network;
d. establishing a STARS hub at the Philadelphia TRACON so that the facility does not depend on a telecommunications feed from the New York STARS hub; and
e. increasing controller staffing at the Philadelphia TRACON. What is the current timeline for each action item?
4. The 2024 FAA Reauthorization law requires the agency to hire the maximum number of air traffic controllers annually from the training academy and to implement the Collaborative Resource Working Group (CRWG) staffing model. What is the status of the agency’s hiring of new controllers and the implementation of the CRWG staffing target for Newark Airport?
5. It is our understanding that one of the runways at Newark Airport is undergoing construction, which has also contributed to the significant flight disruptions at EWR. When does the agency expect this runway rehabilitation to be completed? How is the FAA working with airlines to minimize the impact on passengers?
6. What is the status of the FAA's implementation of provisions in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization law to expedite the replacement and modernization of outdated ATC legacy systems, accelerate the deployment of runway safety technology and advanced control tower training systems, and evaluate ways to improve the efficiency and efficacy of air service in congested airspaces?
7. Last year, the FAA relocated several air traffic controllers from the New York TRACON facility (N90) to the Philadelphia TRACON.4 Are any of the current issues Newark Airport has experienced related to this personnel relocation? How is the agency working to resolve such issues?
8. What other actions is the FAA taking to improve the safety of the EWR airspace and reduce the impact on passengers at Newark Airport?
As part of the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Aviation Subcommittee, as well as members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, we are committed to working closely with the FAA, industry stakeholders, airport operators, and the thousands of public and private sector employees dedicated to safe and reliable air travel. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,