The House voted this week to appropriate $152 million in state funding to build two new runways at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. According to proponents of the supplemental, state funding is needed to ensure the 2028 deadline agreed to by federal and state officials is met, stating that relying solely on funding from the federal government would risk delays that could jeopardize the project.
Key Points:
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- 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 will begin arriving in FY28.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base:
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- 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.
House Bill 4572 will be sent to the Senate for consideration. Following the passage of the legislation, Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), whose district includes the base and who chairs the committee responsible for crafting the Military and Veterans Affairs budget, stated, “As conversations on the final budget continue, I will remain a staunch advocate for the future of Selfridge and the dedicated men and women who serve there. I’m committed to ensuring the Legislature makes smart, fiscally responsible investments in the transformational infrastructure upgrades already underway, so we’re fully prepared to welcome the new fleet of F15-EXs and secure a long, bright future for the base and our region.”
