Trump Pushes Major Overhaul of Washington Dulles Airport

President Trump is personally involved in fast-tracking plans to redesign and modernize one of the country's busiest airports.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 2:11pm

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President Donald Trump is driving a push to overhaul Washington Dulles International Airport, one of the major airports serving the Washington, D.C. region. Trump has hosted infrastructure and construction companies in the Oval Office to hear their proposals for changing Dulles' layout, building new terminals, and eliminating the airport's sometimes-criticized people mover shuttles. The effort is part of Trump's broader plan to remake the Washington area.

Why it matters

Dulles Airport is a critical transportation hub for the nation's capital region, handling millions of passengers annually. Trump's involvement in fast-tracking changes to the airport reflects his desire to leave a physical legacy in Washington and put his personal stamp on the city's infrastructure.

The details

Trump recently hosted about a half-dozen infrastructure and construction companies in the Oval Office, including AECOM which is working on a White House ballroom project, to hear their proposals for overhauling Dulles Airport. The companies pitched ideas to change the airport's layout, build new terminals, and eliminate the sometimes-controversial people mover shuttles. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which oversees Dulles, has already begun plans to overhaul the airport and phase out the people movers within 15 years.

  • Earlier this month, Trump hosted the infrastructure and construction companies in the Oval Office to discuss Dulles Airport proposals.
  • The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority plans to phase out Dulles' people mover shuttles within the next 15 years.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who is personally driving the effort to overhaul Washington Dulles International Airport.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

The organization that oversees the operations of Dulles Airport and has already begun plans to overhaul the airport, including phasing out the people mover shuttles.

AECOM

An infrastructure and construction company that was among those that pitched proposals to Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy for redesigning Dulles Airport.

Ferrovial Airports and Grimshaw Architects

A company that proposed constructing a new terminal at Dulles Airport, with the existing Saarinen terminal being converted into a concessions area.

Sean P. Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary who attended the Oval Office meeting with Trump to hear proposals for redesigning Dulles Airport.

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What they’re saying

“Trump is personally driving the Dulles changes as he attempts to remake Washington — and seeks to leave a physical legacy. Some of those plans (like the 250-ft arch) are polling poorly. But an idea like nixing Dulles' people movers has broader appeal.”

— Dan Diamond, Reporter (The Washington Post)

What’s next

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will continue its plans to overhaul Dulles Airport, including phasing out the people mover shuttles, in the coming years.

The takeaway

Trump's personal involvement in fast-tracking changes to Dulles Airport reflects his broader ambitions to leave a physical imprint on the Washington, D.C. region's infrastructure. While some of his more grandiose ideas have faced criticism, his push to modernize and streamline Dulles has garnered more widespread support.