WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of Ohio’s congressional delegation is calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation to prioritize federal funding for terminal upgrades at John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
U.S. Rep. Mike Carey led the effort, gathering signatures from five fellow Ohio lawmakers across both parties and both chambers of Congress before sending the letter to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy this week. The group is urging Duffy to give the airport’s application for FAA Airport Terminal Program funding full consideration for fiscal year 2026.
John Glenn Airport broke ground on a new terminal in early 2025, replacing infrastructure that dates to 1958. The project is designed to consolidate TSA checkpoints, improve passenger flow, and accommodate the region’s rapid growth. Columbus is the fastest-growing region in Ohio, and the airport currently serves nearly half the state’s counties with more than 130 flights per day to 53 nonstop destinations.
The airport received $8.5 million in ATP grant funding in fiscal year 2025. The lawmakers say additional funding is needed to install modern jetways as part of the new terminal build-out.
The letter was signed by Reps. Joyce Beatty, Troy Balderson, and David Taylor, along with Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted.