WASHINGTON ? A Michigan Republican congressman is requesting $90 million in earmarked federal funding to help pay for a runway project at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County ahead of the anticipated arrival of a new F-15EX fighter squadron in 2028.
U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township formally requested the money this month in a letter to House appropriators, telling them that, with President Donald Trump’s new directive to send 21 F-15EX aircraft to Selfridge, the runway project “would be vital to the storage and deployment of as many aircraft needed in times of crisis.”
The F-15EX fighter mission is intended to replace the aging A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron at Selfridge that is set to be retired starting next year at the base on Lake St. Clair northeast of Detroit.
A relocation of the Selfridge runway is required for safety reasons, James said. The aim is to shift the runway to the north, away from 65 residential homes along the Clinton River south of the base within the designated 3,000-foot by 3,000-foot “clear zone” ? an area kept clear of obstructions to protect both people and property on the ground from air traffic.
“We are focused on this. We’re not throwing a whole bunch of things up against the wall. We’re telling the committee specifically that this is within President Trump’s intent. This is what’s best for the entire nation,” said James, who is running for the GOP nomination for governor in 2026.
“Within 500 miles of Selfridge, we have 20% of [the] Canada and U.S. population. It allows us to react quickly, as we did during our most recent terror attack on 9/11, and we have two years to do [the runway]. So we’re asking for the full $90 million.
“Based upon our track record in the past, I’m very confident that we have a good chance to get it, especially with the local support.”
James asked bipartisan members of Michigan’s delegation to sign on this week in support of his Selfridge earmark request. A delegation letter to the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees military construction touts the 4,000 jobs that Selfridge supports, plus its $850 million annual impact on the regional economy.
“The current infrastructure is insufficient to support the safe accommodation, maintenance and deployment of next-generation aircraft,” James wrote. “The proposed runway extension is essential to fulfill these advanced requirements and to maintain Selfridge’s operational readiness in support of national defense.”
James also submitted letters of support from Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and former U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, who is Selfridge’s honorary base commander and Macomb’s public works commissioner.
James said state and local funds are expected to pay for the rest of the $124 million runway project, though accommodating the bed-down of 21 F-15EXs at Selfridge will incur additional costs. Officials said larger hangars, specialized maintenance needs, and possibly a new flight simulator building are also under discussion.
James said he is “laser-focused” on the runway reconfiguration because it has the longest lead time.
“These fighters take off in two years, right? In addition to this, I also have appropriations and authorization requests in for the additional fighters,” James said. “We’re prioritizing this because this isn’t a done deal yet. I’m doing everything I can to get the biggest piece of the puzzle solved. This is the critical piece that we’ll need to do now.”
In testimony before the Senate on Tuesday, the new secretary of the U.S. Air Force said future Pentagon spending will support Trump’s decision last month to send F-15EX fighters to Selfridge, pledging that they would arrive on time in 2028 as Trump announced.
Based on the president’s decision, the Air Force is planning to execute the placement of F-15EXs at Selfridge,” Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said in response to a question from Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Peters has said he expects to see a budget request by the Pentagon for additional procurement of F-15EXs when the Trump administration releases its budget proposal later this month. The 21 warplanes would cost at least $2 billion, as each F-15EX costs about $99 million.
Peters’ office said he is working closely with the Michigan National Guard to determine and request the funding needed to meet Selfridge’s military construction needs.
On Tuesday, the senator urged Air Force officials to prioritize bases with near-term military construction needs to support flying missions that are “imminent,” like at Selfridge.
Gen. David W. Allvin, chief of staff of the Air Force, told Peters that the goal is to ensure that aircraft platforms aren’t sent to their assigned bases without supporting infrastructure.
“That timing may adjust the timing of the platforms or the infrastructure, one of the two,” Allvin said. “Our target is to make sure that when the platforms get there, they’re able to be used as soon as possible.”
More: Air Force secretary affirms plan to send F-15EX aircraft to Selfridge, and on time
The Air Force will be sending a team to visit Selfridge in early June to develop a plan for the addition of the new F-15EX fighter aircraft and for the KC-46A refueling aircraft that are coming to the base in 2028 and 2030, respectively, said Michael Kroll, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Kroll said part of that plan will include a comprehensive list of construction projects needed to support both flying missions.
The state in collaboration with the National Guard Bureau previously awarded contracts for the design and environmental assessment required for the project at Selfridge that proposes relocating the primary runway northward to shift the southern clear zone away from residential areas.
The relocation will require adjustments to a major county road, drainage systems and some base infrastructure at the runway’s northern end but will preserve existing housing along the Clinton River, Kroll said.
Construction for the non-airfield portion of the project that is subject to state funding is expected to begin in the summer of 2026.
State officials have suspected that the safety zone conflict is part of the reason the Air Force passed over Selfridge after competing for an international training center for the F-35 fighter aircraft.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer previously pledged $100 million in state money toward runway and other infrastructure improvements at Selfridge to try to attract another fighter mission to the base.
The state Legislature has allocated approximately $28 million in funding for upgrades, including the runway project at the base. A panel of the state Senate approved an additional $26 million last month.
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