Whitmer signs Selfridge airbase repair funding bill, locking in new F-15EX fighter wing

MACKINAC ISLAND — The long-awaited new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard base is one step closer to landing in Michigan after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan bill to fund upgraded runways, a spending item that was critical to getting the impending F-15EX  Eagle II fighter jets.

The bill signing occurred during the Mackinac Policy Conference, which allowed all of the stakeholders in the project to be present at one time while the state’s business and political leaders searched for solutions to a number of Michigan’s pressing problems.

@michiganadvance Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaking on the porch of Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel just prior to signing a funding bill to lock in a new F-15 EX fighter wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. @gretchenwhitmermi ♬ original sound – Michigan Advance

Whitmer’s signature now funnels $152 million in state dollars to Selfridge, with the federal government also committing $792 million to make it happen. The funding being moved now to Selfridge also keeps pace with the aggressive timeline set by Whitmer and Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), the latter of whom aimed to get the funding deal done quickly so the repair project and the fighter mission can be installed before President Donald Trump leaves office.

“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,” Whitmer said. “By upgrading runways and infrastructure, we are preparing the base to receive the next generation of fighter jets and making sure Selfridge remains a cornerstone of America’s defense strategy, all the while, creating and supporting defense jobs for decades to come. Most importantly, today shows us what’s possible when we work together. We all understand what Selfridge means to Michigan and our country.” 

Whitmer, ever ready to insert a folksy curse word into her political messaging, also said the effort and the signing was a “BFD.”

“If you don’t know what that means, I’ll tell you later when we’re at the Pink Pony,” Whitmer added, garnering laughs. “A lot of people worked to get this down. As you can see, this is a smattering.”

The legislation was House Bill 4572, sponsored by state Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica). 

Hall said it was important to note that both he and Whitmer lobbied Trump directly, and aggressively, and that their tenacity made Trump say yes. As the conference focuses on its theme of finding common ground, Hall said this was a prime example.

“It was a real iconic moment,” Hall said of Trump agreeing to bring the fighter mission to Michigan, and invoked the president’s visit to Selfridge to announce the move.

Robinson said the funding “sends shockwaves of optimism” through Michigan.

“More importantly, it secures the future of Selfridge, a cornerstone of Macomb County, for generations to come,” Robinson said in a statement. “With this mission, Michigan will reclaim its rightful place as the Midwest’s leader in aerial excellence, and Selfridge will return to its former glory. Macomb is back. Selfridge is back.”

State Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) shepherded the funding bill through the Michigan Senate. He called the funding a major victory for Selfridge, but also for Michigan’s economy and jobs in the region.

“With this critical investment, we are protecting thousands of jobs, strengthening our national defense, and helping ensure that Selfridge remains a cornerstone of our community for generations to come,” Hertel said. “And what makes this achievement especially meaningful is that it was a team effort. This did not happen because of one person or one office — it happened because people came together across party lines and every level of government to get the job done.”