AFA on Capitol Hill: ROTOR Act & Funding During a Government Shutdown
December 19, 2025 - Earlier this week, the Senate unanimously passed the ROTOR Act under the bipartisan leadership of Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The legislation would address some of the critical safety gaps that became apparent after the American Eagle PSA Flight 5342 midair collision.
The ROTOR Act also strips Section 373 from the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would allow military helicopters to operate in DC without broadcasting their position. (Read our union’s statement opposing this dangerous move.)
We urge the House of Representatives to act quickly to pass the ROTOR Act and repeal Section 373. Section 373 is a reckless and indefensible provision inside the NDAA that not only makes our airspace more dangerous, but also undermines the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) safety guidance.
AFA and the Modern Skies Coalition – made up of representatives from the entire aviation industry – sent a letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging support for the Aviation Funding Solvency Act. This legislation would ensure that federal aviation workers, like Air Traffic Controllers, TSA Officers, safety inspectors, and others, are paid during a government shutdown.
The letter reads in part:
This bill will eliminate the additional strain on the U.S. aviation system that can build during government shutdowns by ensuring that air traffic controllers and other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) professionals responsible for maintaining safety of the airspace will continue to get paid. During the most recent shutdown, the FAA moved proactively to address increased safety risks. These risks would have never occurred absent a government shutdown that resulted in missed paychecks.
We urge Congress to pass this legislation to ensure that our nation's aviation workers are able to continue our vital work without disruption.
