Trump, a Former Builder, Plans $32 Trillion Reconstruction of U.S. Capital Airport

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump, a former real estate developer who has been aggressively pursuing construction projects since his second administration began, said he will rebuild Washington, D.C.'s gateway, Washington Dulles International Airport. The project is expected to cost about 32 trillion won.
According to U.S. media outlets including CBS, Trump made the announcement on the 29th local time in the Oval Office at The White House. He said, "It is time for the United States to have the best airport anywhere in the world, and we are going to start that right here in the capital." He added, "This is very exciting for me as a builder, as someone who built many big, beautiful projects before coming here," and explained that he had been directly involved in the design process. CBS reported that airport models made by design firms were brought into The White House several times, and that Trump personally suggested revisions to the shuttle bus system, parking layout, baggage handling system, underground train, and overall appearance.
Dulles Airport is located in northern Virginia, about 40 kilometers from downtown Washington, D.C. Although Ronald Reagan National Airport is within Washington, D.C., it handles mostly domestic flights. International travelers mainly use Washington Dulles International Airport.
Opened in 1962, Dulles Airport handled 29 million passengers last year, up 6.4% from a year earlier. As an aging airport, it has faced frequent criticism for outdated facilities. In this project, the Trump administration plans to expand or renovate more than 5 million square meters of airport space and fully remodel Concourses C and D. The existing main terminal, known for its architectural symbolism, will be preserved.
At the same time, the airport will build new parking facilities for 32,000 vehicles and significantly expand amenities such as hotels, shops and restaurants to improve convenience for travelers. Construction is expected to take about two years.
Once the modernization project is completed, the existing passenger shuttle known as the people mover, which connects the terminal and concourses, will be removed and replaced with an underground passenger transport system.
On the day, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, "There are a few permit procedures we still need to handle, but I think construction can begin next spring." Trump said, "It looks like we can start pretty soon. Most of the financing has already been arranged," adding, "We may need a few congressional approvals, but overall this is a bipartisan issue." Duffy said the project will be financed through $22.5 billion in bonds, and that several airlines, including United Airlines, which is based at Dulles, will share the cost.
Since returning to office for a second term last year, Trump has carried out sweeping renovations of major symbolic sites in Washington, D.C. He has demolished the East Wing of The White House to build a large banquet hall and has also renovated the Kennedy Center, the city's leading performing arts venue. At the same time, he has pushed an environmental improvement project for the Reflecting Pool at the National Mall and is even promoting the construction of a triumphal arch.



[email protected] Park Jong-won Reporter