US President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy have launched a new initiative to redevelop Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump expressed the belief that Dulles Airport is currently poorly designed and inadequate, despite having a beautiful terminal.
Following this, the US Department of Transportation (US DOT) has formally launched a programme to explore its redevelopment.
US President Donald Trump said:We are going to rebuild Dulles Airport, because it's not a good airport. It should be a great airport, but it's not a good airport at all: it is a terrible airport. It was incorrectly designed with a good building, as it actually has a beautiful terminal.
We're going to make Dulles Airport, serving Washington, Virginia, Maryland, etc, into something really spectacular. We have an amazing plan for it. It's going to take Dulles and make a really badly designed airport into as good as there is in the country. It'll be exciting.
The redevelopment programme now seeks proposals from developers, architects and engineers for the design and construction of new terminals and concourses, either to replace or expand the existing facilities.
Current Challenges at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International Airport faces operational and structural challenges. Passengers often rely on the airport’s ‘mobile lounges,’ which transport them from the main terminal to distant gates. These vehicles, combined with the airport’s concourse layout, are considered inefficient, and incidents have occurred, including a crash last month that injured 18 people.
Other aspects of the facility, such as the limited number of main terminal gates and dated concourse design, have prompted calls for a reassessment of the airport’s long-term development.
While the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has plans for incremental updates, Secretary Duffy and US DOT officials contend that these measures do not fully address the need for a modern gateway to the capital.
Secretary Duffy said:Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re making DC safe and beautiful. Violent crime and homelessness are down, while our green spaces are cleaner and Union Station is looking better than ever. But why stop there? Tourists, world leaders, and CEOs from around the world should not be forced to travel through an inefficient airport when they visit D.C. IAD needs a complete refresh to assume its proper role as the premier international gateway into the capital of the greatest country in the world. We’re engaging the private sector to explore how we can do this cost-effectively and at the speed of Trump.
The Department of Transportation has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input on design, financing, and construction strategies for new terminals and concourses at Dulles. Following the RFI, proposals will be reviewed in collaboration with MWAA to evaluate potential designs and implementation plans.
Legal and Policy Context
US DOT retains the property title for Dulles Airport. The 1987 lease between the Secretary of Transportation and MWAA transferred operational responsibility for Dulles and Reagan National Airport to MWAA. A lease extension signed in April 2024 continues this arrangement through 2100. MWAA’s authority, granted by Congress under the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986, includes the ability to maintain, improve, operate and promote the airports for public purposes.
The initiative aligns with Executive Order 14344, signed by President Trump in August 2025, which updates policies on federal architecture with the goal of improving the design and functionality of public buildings. USDOT has indicated that the call for proposals is consistent with this policy, aiming to ensure that the capital’s airport infrastructure meets contemporary needs.
