President Donald Trump is scheduled to announce a $22bn plan to rebuild Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday, after personally reviewing 3D models from contractors vying for the project at the White House.
The announcement will take place at 3pm at the White House, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, and officials from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) in attendance. MWAA operates the airport under a 50-year lease from Congress.
Details of the Overhaul
The proposed overhaul includes five new terminals to replace the existing four, an expanded underground train system to eliminate the aging “mobile lounges,” a new pedestrian tunnel, and additional moving walkways. The approved design features glass and gold accents, including gold-mirrored ceilings throughout the terminals.
United Airlines, which handles roughly 70% of Dulles traffic, has agreed to help finance the project. MWAA is expected to fund much of the work through new bond issuances, having already approved a separate $7bn capital plan for the airport in 2025.
Trump’s Personal Involvement
The Dulles rebuild is part of a broader pattern of Trump personally directing changes in Washington, from a proposed White House ballroom to a planned 250ft arch. Unlike those projects, the airport plan has drawn a tepid response, as Dulles has long been criticized for its distance from the city, jet-fuel-scented concourses, and reliance on shuttle vehicles.
Trump has called Dulles “a terrible airport,” and complaints sharpened last November when a mobile lounge collided with a concourse dock, injuring at least 18 people. A Trump-appointed MWAA board member later cited the crash as further reason to retire the shuttles.
Recent Traffic and Expansion
Dulles handled a record 29 million passengers in 2025, up 6.4% from the previous year, and is set to open a new 14-gate concourse for United this autumn. United and MWAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
