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Congressional Republicans have revived an effort to rename Dulles International Airport for President Donald Trump, reopening a contentious debate over one of Northern Virginia’s most important transportation hubs.
North Carolina Rep. Addison McDowell introduced H.R. 691 on Jan. 23 to designate the airport as “Donald J. Trump International Airport.” He argued the change would create a fitting parallel with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington.
“We have entered the golden age of America largely thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” McDowell said. “It is only right that the two airports servicing our nation’s capital are duly honored and respected by two of the best presidents to have the honor of serving our great nation.”
The measure was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It matches a proposal introduced in 2024 by Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, who is now one of the bill’s four co-sponsors. The others are Reps. Brandon Gill of Texas, Riley Moore of West Virginia and Brian Jack of Georgia.
Although the earlier attempt faced steep odds, Republicans now control both chambers of Congress and Trump has returned to the White House. The party’s narrow four-seat House majority, however, could complicate the proposal’s path.
Democratic lawmakers representing Fairfax and Loudoun counties, where Dulles is located, remain firmly opposed. They argue that renaming a vital part of Northern Virginia’s economy for Trump would be inappropriate, particularly as his efforts to reduce the federal government could affect the region.
Rep. Gerry Connolly repeated the criticism he made when Republicans first proposed the change.
“When Republicans tried the first time to name Dulles after Donald Trump, I said it would be a better fit for the federal prison nearest to Mar-a-Lago to bear his name,” Connolly said. “I still can think of no more fitting an honor for our first convicted felon President.”
A New York jury convicted Trump in May 2024 of falsifying business records connected to hush-money payments intended to suppress allegations of an extramarital affair with a porn actor. Prosecutors said the scheme unlawfully influenced the 2016 presidential election. On Jan. 10, a judge gave Trump an unconditional discharge, imposing no penalties, 10 days before his Jan. 20 inauguration.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, elected in November 2024 to succeed Jennifer Wexton in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, said Republicans should focus on economic and education concerns instead.
“It’s disappointing, but entirely unsurprising, that House Republicans would rather focus their efforts on renaming airports to honor their dear leader than tackling the real issues facing Americans,” Subramanyam said. He urged lawmakers to prioritize working families, consumer prices and schools, noting that the surrounding community had repeatedly rejected Trump and his policies.
Dulles opened in 1962 and bears the name of John Foster Dulles, who shaped American Cold War foreign policy while serving as secretary of state under President Dwight Eisenhower. Its official name became Washington Dulles International Airport in 1982 amid concerns that travelers might mistakenly believe it was in Dallas.
Washington National Airport received Reagan’s name in 1998 after a campaign by the Reagan Legacy Project of Americans for Tax Reform. President Bill Clinton signed the change into law on Reagan’s 87th birthday despite opposition from Democrats and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which cited Reagan’s 1981 firing of 11,000 striking air traffic controllers.