Federal Reports

An Amtrak electrician based in Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced March 26, 2026, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, to two years of probation and was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution and 30 hours of community service, after pleading guilty to one count of theft by deception. Our investigation found that the employee submitted an application containing false statements to the Small Business Administration to qualify for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. As a result, the employee received $96,200 to which he was not entitled.

Why We Did This Report

We issued this report to highlight the threat posed to federal facility Superfund sites and their surrounding communities by inland flooding.

Summary of Findings

If these sites do not analyze inland flooding risks, there is an increased risk that toxic contaminants may be released, threatening the health and environment of millions of U.S. residents. 

Why We Did This Report

We issued this report to highlight the threat posed to federal facility Superfund sites and their surrounding communities by wildfires.

Summary of Findings

If these sites do not analyze wildfire risks, there is an increased risk that toxic contaminants may be released, threatening the health and environment of millions of U.S. residents.

Our Objective(s)

To assess the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) actions to (1) improve its monitoring of controller staffing levels at contract towers and (2) evaluate training requirements and other factors that may impact staffing at contract towers. Why This Audit FAA's Contract Tower (FCT) Program consists of 266 contract towers staffed by over 1,500 controllers. Section 605 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 mandates our office to examine the adequacy of staffing levels, the supply and demand of trained and certificated personnel, and FAA's efforts to allow contractors to conduct initial and on-the-job air traffic controller training to candidates that do not have prior air traffic control experience. 

What We Found 

FAA restructured the FCT Program to improve monitoring of staffing levels at contract towers, but its processes for validating staffing data still have weaknesses. FAA reorganized the FCT Program's administration to delegate responsibility for monitoring staffing levels. FAA updated contractual requirements for contract towers that fall below their full performance level and for towers that are not operational due to staffing. FAA updated its processes for tracking contractors' full performance levels, storing documents, identifying and tracking when a contract tower is not operational, and conducting quarterly reviews. However, FAA still faces challenges validating controller staffing data provided by contractors. FAA altered training requirements to expand the controller hiring pool, but challenges remain to maintain adequate staffing levels at contract towers. FAA took steps to expand the controller hiring pool and streamline training requirements for entry-level controllers. However, these efforts have not improved staffing, as the FCT Program remained understaffed by roughly 18 percent as of April 2025. Controller attrition and stagnant wage rates continue to impact staffing levels at contract towers. 

Recommendations 

We made 3 recommendations to improve FAA's monitoring of controller staffing levels and boost controller staffing at contract towers.