This article is based on an official press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Secretary Duffy Launches $1 Billion “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” Campaign

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has officially launched the “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” campaign, a new initiative designed to alleviate the logistical burdens facing families during air travel. Announced ahead of the busy holiday season, the campaign aims to modernize Airports terminals and improve nutritional options for travelers.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the administration is allocating $1 billion in federal funding to incentivize airports to build family-centric infrastructure. The initiative represents a collaboration between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), signaling a cross-agency focus on the “Family First” and “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agendas.

Infrastructure Investment and Terminal Upgrades

The core of the campaign involves directing $1 billion toward physical improvements in airport terminals. Secretary Duffy emphasized that the goal is to address common public complaints regarding the difficulty of traveling with young children. The funding is intended to support specific projects that make the “travel journey more seamless” for parents and caregivers.

According to the official press release, the funding will incentivize airports to implement the following resources:

• Dedicated Play and Exercise Areas: Creating spaces for children to burn off energy and for travelers to exercise.
• Parental Support Facilities: Adding more mothers’ rooms and nursing pods to terminals.
• Streamlined Security: Reconfiguring checkpoints to create dedicated “family screening lanes,” building on previous TSA initiatives.
• Sensory Rooms: Constructing quiet spaces specifically designed for children with special needs or neurodivergence.

In a statement regarding the launch, Secretary Duffy connected these infrastructure changes to a broader vision for the industry.

“Bringing about a Golden Age in travel has to involve making the family travel experience happier and healthier. Today’s announcement demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to enacting a Family First agenda and improving the lives of the American people.”

, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy

Focus on Health and Nutrition

A significant component of the campaign focuses on dietary health within the travel sector. Secretary Duffy was joined at the launch event by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as health influencers and industry leaders. The group highlighted the lack of healthy food options in traditional airport terminals, which are often dominated by fast food and processed snacks.

The administration expressed an interest in collaborating with private sector partners to expand access to fresh, whole foods. The launch event highlighted Farmer’s Fridge, a company known for fresh food vending machines, as a model for the type of “grab and go” options the USDOT hopes to expand.

Secretary Kennedy emphasized the administration’s intent to remove barriers to healthy eating during travel days.

“Everyone who passes through an airport in this country should have access to fresh, whole foods. Secretary Duffy and I are working to ensure our airports set the standard for a future where healthy eating is part of daily life, travel days included.”

, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Strategic Context and Implementation

The campaign launch featured a coalition of figures representing different facets of the administration’s policy goals, including Dr. Paul Saladino, a physician nutrition specialist, and Isabel Brown, a content creator focused on family advocacy. The presence of these figures underscores the administration’s approach to combining infrastructure policy with cultural and health advocacy.

AirPro News Analysis

While the $1 billion figure is substantial, industry context is required to understand its potential impact. This funding is drawn from the Airport Terminal Program (ATP), established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. By branding this tranche of funding specifically for “family-friendly” initiatives, the USDOT is pivoting existing resources to align with specific ideological goals, namely the “Family First” and “MAHA” platforms.

We note that while $1 billion can fund significant targeted improvements, such as nursing pods and sensory rooms, across many airports, it is a fraction of the total infrastructure need. Industry groups like Airports Council International-North-America have previously estimated U.S. airport infrastructure needs at over $150 billion. Consequently, travelers should expect these grants to result in high-visibility “spot improvements” rather than systemic terminal overhauls at major hubs.

Furthermore, this campaign serves as the infrastructure counterpart to Secretary Duffy’s previous “Golden Age of Travel” messaging, which urged passengers to improve their own behavior and dress. This new initiative shifts the onus onto the government and airport operators to provide a dignified environment that reduces stress, theoretically making it easier for passengers to comply with higher Standards of conduct.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation