President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will pursue a major reconstruction of Washington Dulles International Airport, arguing that one of the nation’s key gateways is in need of a full overhaul. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said Dulles has long fallen short of expectations for a capital-region airport.
“We’re going to rebuild Dulles because it’s not a good airport,” he said, calling the existing facility “a terrible airport” despite its iconic status. Dulles, located in Northern Virginia, is one of three airports serving the Washington metropolitan area and has often been at the center of regional debate about accessibility, design, and traveler experience.
Trump, who previously worked as a real estate developer, criticized aspects of the airport’s structure and said the building was “incorrectly designed,” while still offering praise for famed architect Eero Saarinen, who conceived the original main terminal. He said his administration has developed an “amazing plan” to transform Dulles into a world-class facility. In early November, Trump made an unannounced detour through the airport with his motorcade, a trip the White House said was intended to allow him to personally assess redevelopment opportunities.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy used the Cabinet meeting to highlight one of Dulles’ most polarizing features: the “people movers” that carry passengers between concourses. The slow-moving mobile lounges have long been a point of contention, and one vehicle was involved in a crash earlier this fall.
Aviation experts, however, expressed skepticism about Trump’s proposal. Sheldon H. Jacobson, a specialist in airport security and aviation infrastructure whose research informed TSA PreCheck, described the announcement as puzzling. He noted that Dulles is already undergoing extensive modernization, including a 14-gate concourse opening next year that will link directly to the airport’s AeroTrain system.
“I can think of a lot higher priorities right now,” Jacobson said, citing the urgency of updating the nation’s aging air traffic control infrastructure. Trump indicated his administration is also advancing work on that system.
Jacobson acknowledged that the airport’s reliance on people movers remains a “glaring weakness,” but emphasized that many aspects of Dulles have improved significantly. “There are a lot of things actually in very good shape at Dulles right now,” he said. “I’m not sure what he’s thinking. His comments are non sequitur to the reality of this airport.”
Hours after Trump’s remarks, the Transportation Department announced that it is inviting bids for a project that would construct completely new terminals and concourses at Dulles. In a statement, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said it will work with federal officials to expand upon the existing $7 billion infrastructure plan already in motion.
