NORFOLK, VA — Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) was joined by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy for a visit to Norfolk International Airport to highlight the airport’s critical role in Hampton Roads and discuss ongoing infrastructure and air traffic controller staffing needs.

During the visit, Rep. Kiggans and Secretary Duffy met with Norfolk International Airport leadership to discuss the airport’s ongoing projects, infrastructure priorities, and how the transportation hub serves the region’s economic needs. They then toured Norfolk’s Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), where Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel provided a briefing on air traffic operations, safety, staffing, and other priorities affecting the airport and the surrounding airspace.   

Congresswoman Kiggans said, “As a former Navy helicopter pilot, I know firsthand how vital skilled air traffic controllers and modern infrastructure are to safe, reliable air travel. I was proud to welcome Secretary Duffy to Norfolk International Airport to meet with the professionals who safely manage some of the most complex civilian and military airspace in the country. The $27.3 million investment made possible by the Working Families Tax Cut will help ensure they have the tools needed to carry out that mission. I look forward to continuing our work with Secretary Duffy and the FAA to strengthen aviation safety across Hampton Roads.”

“Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District has a true champion in Congress in Representative Kiggans. Her vote for  the Working Families Tax Cut delivered the $12.5 billion down payment the Department needed to revitalize air traffic control, including $27.3 million for Norfolk International Airport. Together, we are delivering a safer and more efficient travel experience for Virginians and providing an economic boost to the Norfolk region”, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

Congresswoman Kiggans previously toured the Norfolk ATCT in 2025 to meet directly with controllers about staffing, infrastructure, and working conditions. At the time, Norfolk had been on the FAA’s critical facility list continuously since January 2023 and faced significant controller shortages. In 2024, controllers at the facility worked approximately 8,724 hours of overtime to help address staffing needs.

“The men and women operating our air traffic control towers have gone above and beyond in keeping our skies safe despite persistent staffing shortages,” Kiggans said. “They deserve the staffing, resources, and infrastructure they need to succeed and I’m committed to ensuring they receive this vital support to keep Hampton Roads and our nation safe.”

Rep. Kiggans’ Advocacy for Norfolk Air Traffic Control Modernization:

In January 2026, Rep. Kiggans voted in favor of a funding package that consisted of the remaining FY26 Appropriations bills, including funds for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD). The package increased funding for the FAA by $1.588 billion, secured $4.577 billion for airport infrastructure improvements, and provided resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers. Read her press release here.

In March 2025, following the tragic crash over Reagan National Airport, Kiggans and Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07)  introduced the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act of 2025, to direct the Department of Defense to evaluate the feasibility of equipping all U.S. military helicopters with modern collision avoidance systems in an effort to improve safety measures for military rotary-wing aircraft operating near civilian airspace. Certain provisions within the bill were included in the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 and passed the House in February 2026. Read more from WTKR-3 here. 

As the representative for Virginia’s Second District and a former Navy helicopter pilot married to a former F/A-18 pilot and current mother of a F/A-18 pilot, Rep. Kiggans remains committed to modernizing Hampton Roads’ transportation infrastructure, addressing air traffic controller staffing shortages, and securing the federal investments necessary to keep passengers moving safely and efficiently.