The Detroit Regional Chamber Applauds the Bipartisan Action for Funding Selfridge Fighter Mission

On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously passed House Bill 4572, a $152 million spending bill on a new runway at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, a move that meets Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and House Speaker Matt Hall’s June 1 deadline to get the funding through. 

Earlier this week, the Detroit Regional Chamber led a coalition of support from business and local governments in support of the Selfridge investment (see the letter below). Sandy K. Baruah, Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer, celebrated the bipartisan action for funding in a statement:

With sustained infrastructure upgrades projected to cost around $1 billion over five to seven years, the installation has the immense potential to become a “super base” in the years to come. The base secures highly skilled jobs and anchors a robust defense supply chain in a state that is home to more than 600 aerospace suppliers and over 30,000 employees.

Last year, Speaker Hall and Gov. Whitmer asked President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a new fighter mission for Selfridge, with the current mission wrapping up, and Trump then committed to 21 F-15EX aircraft for Michigan.

Whitmer has signaled her support for the bill and is expected to sign it when it reaches her desk. In a statement, she celebrated the passage, calling it a bipartisan win that will grow the state’s economy and make the country safer.

In addition to these funds, the U.S. House on Friday approved $162 million at the request of U.S. Rep. John James (R-MI 10) for $110 million in Selfridge runway improvements, $24 million for Taxiway Bravo, and $28 million for Taxiway Alpha.