ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. (7News) — It's about that time of year. The summer travel woes have nearly arrived at Reagan National Airport (DCA), from increased traffic to weather delays and a shortage of 3,000 air traffic controllers.

"It did take me longer than I thought to get to the airport," traveler Mary Rogers told 7News.

"So the flight was a 4-hour delay, and then when I went to the rental car place, there was a line of 200 people," Bob Thomas said. He flew into BWI and is traveling out of DCA.

Across the river on Capitol Hill, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was questioned by Congress over the current restrictions for helicopters around DCA. It comes after several cancelled landings due to unexpected traffic near the Pentagon in recent weeks.

SEE MORE | Air traffic controllers abort 3 landings at DCA due to 'urgent mission' for helicopter

"I’m very concerned about the amount of traffic that’s coming out of the Pentagon," Duffy said during a hearing on May 15. "If there’s VIP travel, I would like to know who are the VIPs? Who is traveling on these helos [helicopters]? Who classifies?"

"I would like to know the answer to that question as well," Senator Jerry Moran (R) Kansas, replied.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also promising fixes after a bombshell revelation into the communication systems between the Pentagon and DCA.

In a prior hearing on May 14, Senator Ted Cruz (R), Texas, asked Franklin McIntosh, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of the FAA:

Is it true that the hotline, the direct line between the Pentagon air traffic control and the DCA tower, has been inoperable since March of 2022?

McIntosh replied:

Yes, sir, that is correct.

SEE MORE | 'Hotline' between Reagan National, Pentagon air traffic was down since 2022: FAA official

All eyes have been on the changes ahead.

"You’ve got a major city right here, you’ve got a river, you’ve got military installations, so there’s a lot going on," Thomas said.

"It seems like it’s time for an upgrade," Rogers added.

Duffy unveiled a $12.5 billion plan to overhaul the entire air traffic control system, including replacing antiquated telecommunications with new fiber, wireless, and satellite tech, replacing 618 old radars, and 25,000 new radios.

SEE MORE | DOT Secretary unveils $12.5 billion plan to overhaul aging air traffic control system

All while a full National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report into January's midair collision is still underway and expected to come out by the end of 2025.