WASHINGTON, DC – Next week, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Investing in America” tour, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will go on a two-day, four-state swing to highlight federal funding for safety improvements at coming to airfields, often not noticed by passengers but key to their safety as they taxi to and from the gate.

The tour will include a stop at the Monroney Aeronautics Center in Oklahoma City.

Investments from the Biden-Harris Administration are helping airports undertake changes to taxiways, reducing the risk of runway incursions. The Secretary’s airport tour will highlight those investments as part of the Department of Transportation’s continued focus on safety.

The FAA held a Safety Summit two weeks ago to take action to address recent close calls in the airspace. The summit brought together leaders from across the aviation sector, including airlines, flight and ground crews, and air traffic control, to find potential causes and needed actions to uphold safety. Last week, the agency issued a safety alert to pilots, airlines, and others and announced steps it is taking with its air traffic workforce.

“America has the world’s safest and most complex aviation system because of our rigorous standards and the dedicated aviation workforce that ensures millions of people get to their destinations safely every day. But we can never take our safety record for granted – as recent close calls have made clear,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “I look forward to seeing firsthand some of the innovative ways airports are layering in new safety measures, and hearing from the people putting them into action at our nation’s airports.”

Schedule: Wednesday, March 29: CLT (Charlotte, North Carolina) LIT (Little Rock, Arkansas) Thursday, March 30: DFW (Dallas-Ft.Worth, Texas) OKC and FAA’s Michael Monroney Aeronautical Center (Oklahoma City, OK) Secretary Buttigieg’s trip is part of the Biden Administration’s “Investing in America” Tour that includes President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, members of the Cabinet, and senior White House officials visiting over 20 states to highlight the impact of the President’s Investing in America agenda.

Background: On March 15, FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen convened more than 200 safety leaders from across the aviation sector at an FAA Safety Summit in McLean, Virginia, to strategize ways to improve safety in commercial operations, the air traffic systems, airport and ground operations, and general aviation operations.