Atlanta Airport Loses $37 Million in Federal Funding Over DEI Dispute
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has forfeited more than $37 million in federal grant funding after city officials declined to accept updated requirements tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The funding, which came from a $57 million package allocated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was designated for major infrastructure improvements, including restroom renovations, taxiway repairs, and sustainability initiatives. By rejecting the new conditions, the airport lost access to its portion of this year’s federal allocation.
City officials confirmed that while the airport remains eligible to apply for FAA grants in future years, the 2025 funds originally earmarked for Atlanta will not be recoverable.
The dispute reflects broader national debates surrounding federal grant conditions, particularly those that incorporate DEI-related requirements into infrastructure and development funding.
The City of Atlanta issued the following statement regarding the funding issue:
The City of Atlanta’s airport is the busiest and most efficient on the planet, with large and complex staffing, operations and capital improvements, supported by an annual capital and operating budget of over $2 billion.
We are confident that the airport will be able to pursue alternative funding to advance these projects without impacting customers or airport service providers.
Federal funding for the airport, while important, represents less than 10%, approximately $1 billion over the next 6 years of the airport’s total capital program over the same period.
The City is currently evaluating all options to ensure alignment with our long-held values, local policy and federal law and we are confident that the airport will be well positioned to receive federal funds in the future.
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