This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill appropriating $152 million in funding to upgrade the runways and infrastructure at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Signing the bill prior to the June 1 deadline unlocked $792 million in federal investments in the base and ensures it’s ready for new F-15EX fighter jets to begin arriving by 2028.
Key Points:
-
- House Bill 4572 was introduced by Representative Ron Robinson (R-Utica).
- The House passed the supplemental in March 2026.
- Governor Whitmer and President Trump announced the expansion in April 2025, in agreement with the U.S. Department of War.
- Approximately 20 F-15EXs will be stationed at the base, in addition to the already planned KC-46As, the base is set to receive.
- At the time of the announcement, the Department of War said the F-15EXs would begin arriving in FY28.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base:
-
- The base is located in Harrison Township, which is in Macomb County.
- It contributes an estimated $850 million to Michigan’s economy, supporting 30,000 jobs statewide.
- It is home to units from every U.S. Armed Service except Space Force, as well as homeland security operations by Customs and Border Protection.
- Selfridge supports Michigan’s defense industry, which contributes $30 billion to the state’s economy and supports approximately 166,000 jobs.
- Additionally, the base directly supports other military installations in Michigan, such as Camp Grayling, the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, and the Detroit Arsenal, among others.
