Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a member of the U.S. Congress representing New Jersey’s 5th district since 2017, recently took to social media to address several pressing issues concerning Newark Airport’s operations and infrastructure. His statements focused on improving the airport’s capacity and safety.
On May 6, 2025, Gottheimer stated that he had contacted the CEO of United Airlines to discuss measures necessary for restoring Newark Airport’s full operational capacity. He emphasized his desire for passengers to continue using Newark as their primary airport destination, saying, “I don’t want anyone going anywhere else. I want them to be able to go to EWR.”
In another tweet from the same day, Gottheimer called upon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority to review the technical wiring and infrastructure at Newark’s air traffic control towers. He cited a recent incident involving an outdated tower where communication was disrupted due to an old copper wire failure. He expressed concern over such vulnerabilities by stating, “Last week, an old copper wire in an outdated tower wiped out all communications between” controllers.
Furthermore, Gottheimer demanded action from the Trump Administration regarding staffing shortages at Newark Airport. Highlighting that about 40 air traffic controllers are needed in a region responsible for 20% of the nation’s GDP, he urged for immediate staffing solutions and appropriate compensation for workers. His demand was clear: “First, I am demanding that the Trump Administration add more air traffic controllers to cover Newark Airport.”
Josh Gottheimer was born in Livingston, New Jersey in 1975 and resides in Wyckoff. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in 1997 and holding a JD from Harvard University earned in 2004, he has been actively serving his constituency since replacing Scott Garrett in Congress.
