Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday that directs $152 million toward infrastructure upgrades at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The signing came during the Mackinac Policy Conference and cleared the way for $792 million in federal funding.
The legislation, House Bill 4572, was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Ron Robinson of Utica. It passed the House and received a unanimous vote in the Senate before reaching Whitmer's desk. Lawmakers worked to beat a June 1 deadline that would trigger the federal investment.
"Today's bill signing is another major bipartisan win for Michigan and for our national security," Whitmer said at the signing ceremony on Mackinac Island. "Selfridge Air National Guard Base has long played a critical role in protecting our country, supporting service members and military families, and strengthening Michigan's economy."
What the funding buys
The state money will pay for runway shifts, airfield repairs, drainage upgrades, and roadway improvements at the Harrison Township base, according to the governor's office. Officials say the work must begin this year to keep the base ready for new F-15EX fighter jets scheduled to arrive by 2028. The base will also receive KC-46 tanker aircraft.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, called the timing essential.
"Meeting this deadline is critical because it allows us to move immediately into the next phase of this project and hire a construction manager so work can begin without delay," Rogers said. "These runway and taxiway improvements are essential to ensuring Selfridge is fully prepared for the arrival of the F-15EX mission."
The economic stakes
Selfridge Air National Guard Base contributes an estimated $850 million to Michigan's economy annually and supports 30,000 jobs statewide, according to the governor's office. State Senator Kevin Hertel, a Democrat from St. Clair Shores, said the combined state and federal investment will bring close to $1 billion to the Selfridge community over the next four years.
Republican Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall called the deal a "game changer" that will help keep the 109-year-old base "open for another 40 years."
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel praised both parties for cooperation on the measure.
"There was no dissension on this issue," Hackel said. "Once I knew the party leadership was on board, I was convinced this was going to happen."
Why the deadline mattered
The June 1 cutoff was set by federal authorities as the trigger point for releasing military construction funds. Missing it would have delayed the project and put the F-15EX mission timeline at risk. Whitmer credited both former President Joe Biden for supporting the KC-46 tanker mission and current President Donald Trump for advancing the F-15EX program at Selfridge.
Brig. Gen. Daniel Kramer II of the Michigan Air National Guard said "it took the whole team of legislators" to get the measure passed before the deadline.
With the bill signed, the base can now move into the construction management phase. Work is expected to begin immediately, with the goal of having runways and infrastructure ready for the next generation of fighter aircraft by 2028.