Trump Announces $22.5 Billion Washington Dulles Airport Renovation

President Donald Trump announced a $22.5 billion renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport on July 29, 2026. The project aims to modernize the 63-year-old facility by eliminating the mobile lounge "people movers" used since 1962, replacing them with a U-shaped underground passenger train, a central walking tunnel, and additional moving walkways. The plan also involves replacing the C and D concourses with four new linear concourses and adding an above-ground parking garage for 32,000 vehicles.

Trump personally directed the design process, reviewing 3D models from roughly 30 firms and rejecting proposals from Ferrovial and Jacobs. While the iconic sloped roof of the main terminal will be preserved, the interior foyer and ticket kiosks will be refurbished with gold accents and large glass windows. This initiative is part of a larger infrastructure effort for the Washington region, including a new White House ballroom and a triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will finance the project by issuing tax-free bonds, which United Airlines will repay through airport operations. United Airlines will also contract for the build, following the airline's successful opposition of a bid from BlackRock. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2027, although Trump noted that some Congressional approval is required for the project.