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See the full story · 11 sourcesThe project's financing will come from the airport authority and the airlines operating at Dulles, according to a White House official
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Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping $22.5 billion renovation plan for Washington Dulles International Airport , a project set to eliminate the long-standing and often-criticized "people movers" that shuttle travelers to and from the main terminal.
This ambitious airport overhaul is one of several large-scale projects Trump is pursuing to leave a significant mark on the Washington region before his term concludes in January 2029.
Other undertakings include the construction of a new White House ballroom and a towering triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
The proposed changes at Dulles will replace the mobile lounges with a new U-shaped passenger train, a central walking tunnel, and additional moving walkways.
An above-ground parking garage, offering space for 32,000 vehicles and situated closer to the main terminal, is also part of the plan, as announced by Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Using a laser pointer to illustrate the renovations on renderings, Trump described the airport as "the worst airport" due to the "crazy distances" travelers currently endure.
He was sharply critical of Dulles, with the exception of its distinctive main terminal, framing the renovation as essential to making the nation's capital more attractive and improving the airport's reputation.
"This transformation is another step in our ongoing efforts to make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful again," Trump stated. "We're doing something with Dulles that's going to make it the top anywhere in the world."
Trump indicated that some congressional approval would be necessary, with Secretary Duffy expressing hope for construction to commence next spring.
Dulles, located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) from downtown Washington in northern Virginia, is managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which also oversees Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The project's financing will come from the airports authority and the airlines operating at Dulles, according to a White House official.
As one of three airports serving the Washington region, Dulles functions as the primary international gateway. Baltimore Washington International Airport also offers overseas flights, though it is farther away. Reagan National, while more convenient for local residents and members of Congress, primarily handles domestic flights.
Trump had previously voiced his dissatisfaction with Dulles in December, stating it "needs to be redesigned" and was "incorrectly designed." Despite his criticism, he praised Eero Saarinen, the Finnish-American architect behind the airport's main terminal.
"We’re going to turn that around and we’re going to make Dulles airport — serving Washington and Virginia, Maryland, etc. — we’re gonna make that into something really spectacular," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting. "We have an amazing plan for it."
The "people movers," designed by Chrysler Corp., have been a fixture at Dulles since its opening in 1962, shuttling passengers between the terminal and aircraft.
The airport currently operates a fleet of 19 mobile lounges, each capable of carrying up to 102 passengers.
Initially, the system was lauded as a major convenience, with the airport boasting that passengers "had to walk only 200 feet once they entered the terminal until they were seated in a mobile lounge for the short trip directly to their aircraft," a service then unique to Dulles.
However, these vehicles have since become one of the least favored aspects of the Dulles experience, with one mobile lounge crashing in November, resulting in 18 hospitalizations.
Dulles had already embarked on a multibillion-dollar construction program in 2000 to prepare for future passenger demand, which included new parking garages, a fourth runway, a new concourse, an Air Traffic Control tower, pedestrian walkways, and an airport train system.
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