WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – During a trip to Washington this past week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appealed again to the Biden Administration for more funding to be directed to the Selfridge Air National Guard Base. 

While she was visiting for the National Governors Association’s winter meeting, Whitmer also met with senior Biden advisers in the White House to urge them to replace the A-10 squadron at the base with the next generation fighter aircraft.  

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“Everyone knows what we want. There’s no lack of clarity…and as they introduce the budget, as the conversations evolve around investment, we’ve got to make sure that no one overlooks what we have, and so we’re gonna keep pushing,” Whitmer said in an interview with the Detroit News. “We’re turning the heat up.”

The Air Force’s tentative backup location for a new F-35 international training center would be Selfridge, and Gov. Whitmer is  aiming to convince the Pentagon to choose Michigan as the location rather than its number one choice, at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base at the Fort Smith Regional Airport in Arkansas.  The Air Force is expected to deliver its final decision later this spring. 

These series of conversations come after the Governor’s letters to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III including a pledge to contribute almost $100 million in state tax dollars to upgrade facilities and infrastructure.  

“I repeat my commitment to funding upgrades, which would significantly reduce the cost to the Air Force by almost $100 million,” Whitmer’s letter said, “I look forward to sharing more with you about the next steps in this commitment as we solidify our state budget in the next few weeks.”  

According to the Detroit News, Whitmer acknowledged that the Air Force was “very interested” and “very excited” about the offer, which she described as demonstrating the state’s commitment.  

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The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget included $11.5 million for the Selfridge to “improve and maintain infrastructure at the base to continue to position Michigan to compete for next generation aircraft and future fighter missions,” she said in her proposal. 

The same day that Gov. Whitmer unveiled her budget proposal, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Resolution 9, introduced by Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). 

“A resolution to express our commitment, in partnership with the United States Air Force, to accelerating change in order to compete with, deter, and, if necessary, defeat a peer adversary, and to urge the United States Air Force to replace the A-10s with an advanced generation fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base,” the Senate Resolution said. 

Hertel expressed his gratitude for more funding for the base and urges more investment in Selfridge and shared what opportunities it offers and can provide in the future. 

“I am proud to join our federal delegation in calling for a permanent F-35 mission to be located at Selfridge,” Sen. Hertel said in a statement. “Michigan has an incredible wealth of defense manufacturers, and moving a mission close to their home is a benefit for both our military and our local businesses. It’s time to capitalize on all the wonderful things Selfridge offers.”