DOT promises airport upgrades using Biden-era program
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Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at the "Make Travel Family Friendly Again" campaign on Dec. 8. Photo: Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The Department of Transportation unveiled a new $1 billion grant program Monday that will let airports apply for funding aimed at improving the overall travel experience for Americans.
The big picture: Funding for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's "Make Travel Family Friendly Again" campaign comes from the 2021 Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Airport Terminal Program, per the DOT.
- The program allocates $1 billion annually through 2026 to sustain airport terminal projects.
Driving the news: Duffy kept grant details vague at Monday's briefing, but he floated several suggestions for possible funding. These include building "mini-gyms" for travelers to work out, expanding nursing pods for breastfeeding mothers and establishing family-exclusive lanes at security checkpoints.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed the possibility of airports investing in healthier, unprocessed food options.
Yes, but: Many major U.S. airports have already taken steps to increase play access for kids or incorporate better-for-you food options.
- At least 30 of the country's major airports already had or were installing play areas in the terminals in 2011, per NBC.
- For several years, all airports have been required to provide a private, non-bathroom lactation space in each terminal building.
Worth noting: Many of Duffy's suggested improvements don't align with the changes Americans say they actually want.
- Above all other potential changes to commercial air travel, Americans overwhelmingly want lower fares and fewer fees, with 68% ranking it as their top priority, according to a 2025 Ipsos survey for Airlines For America.
- Americans ranked more comfortable airline seats and speedier security or customs lines as their next preferences, while better airline app functionality and Wi-Fi landed at the bottom.
Between the lines: Biden previously sought to address consumer frustration over widespread delays and cancellations with a 2024 proposal requiring airlines to provide passengers with cash reimbursements after significant disruptions.
- However, Trump's DOT scrapped the initiative in November, arguing the agency lacked authority to mandate specific reimbursements.
What they're saying: When asked whether the DOT sought direct input from parents about what they and their children need, Duffy said that he believes parents would prefer designated play spaces over kids spending time on their phones.
- He acknowledged that many children might not gravitate toward healthier food options like salads but noted that parents can plan ahead and pack their own snacks.
- "This is a conversation about could we offer healthier options?" Duffy said. "Could we support nursing mothers? How can we make the experience, as we all travel together, just a little bit better?"
Methodology: The nationwide poll was conducted Jan. 7-22, 2025. Online interviews were conducted with a random sample of 3,667 adults. The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 1.7 percentage points.
Go deeper: The most expensive — and cheapest — airports to fly from
