Trump administration moves to overhaul Dulles Airport

President Donald Trump said Tuesday, Dec. 2, that his administration will launch a major reconstruction of Washington Dulles International Airport, arguing the facility has fallen far short of its potential.

“We are also going to rebuild Dulles Airport because it’s not a good airport,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “It should be a great airport, and it’s not a good airport at all. It’s a terrible airport.”

The president praised Eero Saarinen, architect of the airport’s landmark main terminal. “He was one of the greatest architects in the world at the time,” Trump said, noting that despite the celebrated design, “they have a great building and a bad airport.” He said, “It’s got a beautiful terminal.”

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority issued a statement in response, saying it appreciates the administration’s interest in improving Dulles. “The Airport Authority appreciates the administration’s interest in making improvements to Washington Dulles International Airport. We look forward to seeing the results of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s request for information and working collaboratively with the administration. We always embrace new ideas for Dulles, which is the fastest growing international gateway airport in America (year-over-year through September YTD). We want to build on the existing $7 billion capital plan for Dulles, which is underway with a new concourse under construction and expected to open next fall. “

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaking earlier in the meeting, highlighted the airport’s long-criticized “people movers,” the mobile lounges that carry travelers between concourses. The system drew new scrutiny after one of the vehicles crashed in November.

Later Tuesday, the Transportation Department announced it is soliciting proposals for a project that would construct new terminals and concourses at Dulles.

Dulles, named for former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, has been undergoing a series of
upgrades in recent years.