Senators Peters and Slotkin Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Support Recapitalization of Air National Guard Fighter Missions, Including at Selfridge Air National Guard Base

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Elissa Slotkin (MI) joined a group of their colleagues in leading bipartisan legislation to preserve the U.S. Air Force’s fighter force structure and support the recapitalization of Air National Guard fighter missions, including at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.  

“National Guard fighter squadrons play a vital role in our national defense, and it’s essential that we protect these missions and position them for long-term success,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “This bipartisan legislation supports our continued efforts to secure a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which would help ensure Michigan remains critical to U.S. military strategy and defense against our adversaries around the world.” 

“With emerging threats on the rise, our U.S. Air Force should retain its air combat power at Selfridge Air National Guard Base,” said Senator Slotkin. “The National Guard hosts the majority of America's deployable combat air forces, and the fighter mission at Selfridge plays a vital role in defending the entire country. Keeping the fighter mission will ensure that decades of combat-proven experience – based right here in Michigan – from our pilots, operators, maintainers, and force support experts will continue.” 

Of the 25 Air National Guard fighter squadrons in existence today, 15 currently do not have a recapitalization or modernization plan to replace retiring legacy fighters, including Selfridge. The Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 would: 

• Raise the minimum number of fighters in the U.S. Air Force inventory to support efforts to recapitalize Air National Guard units. 
• Prioritize the recapitalization of Active Duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard units that are not already assigned to a combatant commander, like Selfridge, to maximize U.S. fighter assets and better secure our homeland. 
• Require a report outlining a comprehensive recapitalization plan for all Air National Guard fighter squadrons, including at Selfridge. 
• Establish a robust requirement to track Air Force fighter force structure, giving Congress oversight authority over potential future force structure modifications. 
• Peters has consistently fought to support the future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base. In the most recent national defense bill, he fought to secure language that encourages the Air Force to plan for replacement of the 25 Air National Guard fighter aircraft squadrons across the country with advanced fighter aircraft – including the A-10 squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.  

In January 2024, Peters announced that the U.S. Air Force selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to host a new squadron of twelve KC-46A refueling tankers. This announcement came shortly after Peters led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Michigan delegation members in urging U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to select Selfridge for a new squadron of these next-generation tankers, which will be deployed by the U.S. Air Force for the next 50 years. Peters also recently visited the base to highlight his efforts to establish and secure funding to operate the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Northern Border Mission Center, which will be collocated at Selfridge and support wide-ranging efforts to strengthen border security. 

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