The Trump administration is set to announce a $22.5 billion plan to significantly overhaul Dulles International Airport, with the project expected to be partially funded by taxpayers, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and operating airlines. The announcement is slated for Wednesday, with President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expected to detail the extensive renovations.
The modernization effort includes the construction of four new concourses and the relocation of the main terminal's parking lot to be closer to the building. A key feature of the plan is the elimination of the current mobile lounges, commonly referred to as "people movers," which transport passengers to outlying concourses. These will be replaced by an extended underground aerotrain system, complemented by moving sidewalks within the terminal and concourses to enhance passenger flow.
Dulles Airport has faced criticism for its outdated facilities compared to other major U.S. airports. A particular point of contention has been the "people movers," a system in use since the 1960s. In November, an incident occurred where eight people were injured after one of these vehicles struck a dock. President Trump himself has previously described Dulles as a "terrible airport," expressing his administration's intent to rebuild it.
The project, which is expected to span multiple years, aims to transform the airport's landscape while preserving the historic appearance of its iconic main terminal building. United Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, operates many of its flights from a terminal built in 1985 as a temporary structure, which underwent rehabilitation in 2006. United has been involved in the design and planning stages of the overhaul.
In December, the Department of Transportation initiated a request for information (RFI) to solicit proposals for public-private partnerships to revitalize Dulles. The department received over 30 proposals and comments in response to this request. Early design concepts explored by the airport authority had included a proposal to name the main terminal the Donald J. Trump Terminal, though it remains unclear if this will be part of the final plans.