WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a member of the Armed Services Committee and Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump announced that Selfridge will receive 21 F-15EX fighters starting in Fiscal Year 2028.
“After more than a decade of bipartisan work from Michigan leaders of all stripes, including our Senators, House members, and local leaders, we have finally secured a new fighter mission at Selfridge to replace the retiring A-10 platform.
“President Trump’s announcement that Selfridge will receive 21 F-15EX fighters is a big win and it is a testament to the more than 100-year history of Selfridge defending our nation. A tradition that will proudly continue.
“The announcement is important because the Air National Guard hosts the majority of America’s deployable combat air forces, and the fighter mission at Selfridge plays a vital role in the defense of our nation. This announcement will ensure that decades of combat-proven experience stays right here in Michigan.
“We look forward to working with the Trump Administration to bring these F-15EXs to Selfridge.”
Slotkin has been a strong supporter of a new fighter mission at Selfridge ever since she was first elected to Congress. When she was in the House of Representatives, she led bipartisan legislationto preserve the U.S. Air National Guard’s fighter force structure and prevent the Air Force from retiring older fighter squadrons without replacing them with newer aircraft, including the A-10 squadron at Selfridge.
This year, Slotkin, along with Senator Gary Peters helped introduce the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025, which would allow Selfridge to keep its fighter mission. Slotkin’s top priority every year in the annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, has been to preserve and recapitalize the fighter squadrons in the Air National Guard. Moreover, alongside Senator Peters, Slotkin introduced a Senate Resolution commemorating the 108th anniversary of Selfridge and its contributions to national defense.
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