The new $1 trillion COVID-19 aid bill introduced by United States’ lawmakers contains funding for new F-35 fighter jets as the Senate seeks to battle the pandemic in more ways than one.

The Coronavirus relief act proposed on July 28, 2020, by the US Senate includes $1.4 billion for brand new F-35 fighter jets and C-130 transport planes. An additional $1.1 billion of the bill’s budget will be dedicated to an order of Boeing P-8 Poseidon jets and $283 million more for the Army’s Boeing AH-64 Apache.

The bill raises some interesting questions in contrast to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) press release on the same day that announced a $273 million grant to US airports, considering the current situation in the aviation industry.

$242 million from the grant was set aside for the Airport Improvement Program that focuses on infrastructure, while $31 million was for “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security,” distributed across 184 US airports.

At the same time, the Senate has agreed to extend its $32 billion payroll bailout that is due to expire on October 1, 2020, by an additional $10 billion helping airports to retain their employees.

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Air travel industry bailouts totaling $42b backed in US Congress
The United States  House signed a letter backing a six-month extension of a $32 billion payroll aid program for the aviation industry, while Senate Republicans agreed to the Airport association’s plea for additional $10 billion.