As if dragging a three-wheeled carry-on across the mileage of an international airport isn’t enough, the government wants you panting before your flight. This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Had a pull-up competition in the middle of Reagan National Airport’s Terminal 2 (not a metaphor) to announce the $1 billion in grants the administration plans to allocate toward healthy airport upgrades.
TL;DR
- Government announces $1 billion in grants for healthy airport upgrades.
- Initiatives include children's recreation zones and fitness centers.
- Funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- Most airports already offer these amenities; passengers prioritize lower prices.
- Authorities offered little detail on the potential enhancements, yet they pointed to initiatives such as specialized zones for children's recreation, additional private spaces for nursing mothers, and compact fitness centers for passengers.
- The financial backing will be sourced from Former President Biden’s 2021 legislation, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and is a component of the current administration's “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” program.
But… over 30 major US airport hubs already have children’s play areas, and most airports have been required to provide private lactation areas since FY2021. And 68% of passengers said their top priority for air travel changes is lower prices, according to a 2025 Ipsos poll for Airlines for America.
Big picture: The government has been promoting programs aimed at improving the air travel experience. In the previous month, Duffy urged passengers to dress up for their journeys and behave appropriately, a suggestion some travelers met by...donning sleepwear at the airport to mock the secretary.—MM
This report was originally published by Morning Brew.
