President Trump is set to publicly reveal his plans for a $22.5 billion renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport, sources told CBS News. The overhaul will replace the airport's mobile lounge system, known as "people movers," with a new underground U-shaped aerotrain and moving sidewalks. The president has privately criticized Dulles as a "terrible airport" with poor design, including distant parking and an inefficient transportation system.
Trump has been personally involved in the redesign process, reviewing 3D models of the airport's terminal, parking lots, baggage handling system, and underground trains. He has directed that the iconic sloped-roof main terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen, be preserved while the interior is refurbished with an open foyer and new ticket kiosks. The renovation is the latest in a series of architectural projects Trump has overseen during his second term, following updates to the White House East Wing, Kennedy Center, and various Washington parks.
The current mobile lounge system, in use since 1962, will be scrapped as part of the renovation. The new aerotrain system is intended to improve passenger movement between terminals. Trump was scheduled to announce the plans from the Oval Office with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, though the timeline may shift.