The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 would allow the Federal Aviation Administration to continue operating during a federal government shutdown by drawing on amounts in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund that are not otherwise appropriated. The bill applies to FAA activities that were funded in the prior fiscal year, including Operations, Facilities and Equipment, Research, Engineering, and Development, and Grants-in-Aid for Airports. It also covers direct loans and loan guarantees tied to those activities.
Under the bill, FAA funding during a lapse in appropriations would generally continue at no more than the prior year’s operating rate and would last until regular appropriations or a continuing resolution is enacted, or for up to 30 days after the lapse begins, whichever comes first. If the lapse continues into the end of the fiscal year, the funding authority would carry forward into the next fiscal year. The bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to add the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2025 to the list of authorized uses of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
Impact
The bill would create a statutory exception to the normal shutdown rules for FAA operations by making Airport and Airway Trust Fund receipts available for specified FAA programs during a lapse in appropriations. It would amend section 9502(d)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expressly permit this expenditure authority, thereby affecting how trust fund revenues may be used when annual appropriations are delayed. The practical effect would be to reduce the risk of FAA service interruptions, including air traffic operations, airport grants, and related research and equipment functions, during a federal funding lapse.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to assess. Based on the bill text and its purpose, the measure appears to be framed as a continuity-of-operations proposal intended to prevent disruption to aviation safety and airport functions during shutdowns. The referral to the Subcommittee on Aviation suggests it is still in the early committee stage.
Contention
The bill’s main policy issue is whether the FAA should be insulated from broader appropriations lapses by using dedicated trust fund money. Supporters would likely emphasize aviation safety, continuity of air traffic control, and stability for airports and related programs. Potential concerns could come from lawmakers who oppose creating shutdown exceptions for specific agencies, who may view the measure as weakening appropriations leverage or setting a precedent for other trust-fund-backed programs. No specific objections are recorded in the provided materials.