A look at Trump’s $22bn plans to makeover Dulles Airport near Washington

Nestled just outside the U.S. capital, Washington Dulles International Airport has long served as a critical gateway for international and domestic travel, but its aging infrastructure has drawn growing criticism from travelers and industry experts alike. At the center of a newly proposed sweeping upgrade is a $22 billion transformation initiative put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump, a project that would reshape one of the busiest aviation hubs on the East Coast. The BBC’s Shaimaa Khalil recently explored the airport’s current state, starting her on-site report aboard one of Dulles’ signature people movers – a transit system that has carried passengers between terminals continuously since 1962. That half-century-old transit system stands as a symbol of the airport’s stalled modernization: while other major U.S. hubs have invested billions to update concourses, security checkpoints, baggage systems and passenger amenities, Dulles has retained much of its original mid-century infrastructure that struggles to keep up with growing passenger volumes. Trump’s plan calls for a full gut-and-rebuild of key terminal areas, expansion of runway capacity to accommodate larger aircraft and reduce flight delays, replacement of outdated internal transit systems including the current people movers, and major upgrades to ground transportation connections linking the airport to downtown Washington and surrounding suburbs. Proponents of the plan argue that the overhaul would create thousands of local construction jobs, boost the regional economy by increasing Dulles’ capacity to handle growing air travel demand, and solidify the airport’s role as a key global entry point for the United States. Critics, however, have raised questions about the $22 billion price tag, how the project would be funded, and whether the overhaul aligns with long-term national aviation infrastructure priorities. As discussions around the proposal continue, the 60-year-old people movers still move thousands of passengers daily, a quiet reminder of how long infrastructure upgrades have been pending at this critical national transportation hub.