US President Donald Trump is scheduled to announce a $22bn plan today to rebuild Washington’s Dulles International Airport. The announcement follows the President's personal input on the design of the capital's main international gateway.
A White House official confirmed the announcement, with CBS News reporting that President Trump had reviewed 3D models from contractors and suggested changes. The event is set for 3pm at the White House, where President Trump will be joined by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby, and officials from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The proposed overhaul is expected to include five new terminals, replacing the current four, and an expansion of the underground train system. This expansion aims to eliminate the need for the airport's existing mobile lounges, which transport passengers across the tarmac. A new underground pedestrian tunnel and additional moving walkways are also planned.
Sources briefed on the proposal indicate the approved design will feature glass and gold elements, including gold-mirrored ceilings throughout the terminals. United Airlines has committed to helping finance the project, which is anticipated to take years and cost over $20bn. The MWAA is expected to fund a significant portion of the work through new bond issuances, having already approved a separate $7bn capital plan for the airport in 2025.
President Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Dulles, stating in December that it "should be a great airport" but "it's a terrible airport." Complaints about the airport intensified last November after a mobile lounge collided with a concourse dock, resulting in at least 18 injuries.
Dulles Airport served a record 29 million passengers in 2025, a 6.4% increase from the previous year. A new 14-gate concourse for United Airlines is scheduled to open this autumn.