Trump unveils $22.5 billion overhaul plan for Dulles Airport

During early 2026, President Trump asked several engineering firms to build three-dimensional mock-ups of a proposed renovation for Washington Dulles International Airport, allowing him to tweak details on everything from terminal buses to baggage handling. He plans to reveal the blueprint publicly, possibly from the Oval Office alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. While preserving Eero Saarinen’s sloped-roof terminal, the design adds four linear concourses, a new underground U-shaped aerotrain serving all gates, and additional moving sidewalks, while relocating parking nearer the main building.

The long-standing mobile lounge system, in operation since 1962, would be eliminated. Funding is expected to be secured through tax-free bonds issued by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, with United Airlines contracted to service the construction and repay the financing. Separate bids will be invited for land-side developments, including a convention center and new parking facilities. The president’s choice favored a plan that builds on existing infrastructure and aligns with United’s interests, after rejecting more radical proposals from firms such as Ferrovial and HNTB.