AFA’s Annual Legislative Priorities
At the heart of AFA’s mission is this phrase: “Promote dominant U.S. Air & Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense.”
Widely respected in Congress, AFA works to influence and educate lawmakers on legislative issues affecting the Air Force and Space Force. Airmen and Guardians face rising challenges around the world at a time when our Department of the Air Force is older, smaller, and less ready than at any point in history. Over the past two decades, the Air Force’s capability and capacity to fight has declined in significant ways, as planes aged, and readiness eroded. The combination of rising global challenges and declining readiness put our national security at risk.
The United States must reverse this decline with robust investment in both advanced military capabilities and in increased capacity to wage sustained military operations. Collectively, the solutions outlined here will help our nation remain the world’s leading air and space power for years to come.
AFA’s Top Legislative Priorities
1. Increased Resources for the Space Force
AFA is calling for a dramatic increase of resources and manpower for the U.S. Space Force to enable it to meet and counter competitors’ concerning advances in a critical warfighting domain. Specifically, AFA is asking Congress to double the Space Force’s total budget by 2029, adding an additional $30 billion and an additional 3,790 billets spread across six current and five future mission areas. Read More →
2. Fully Fund the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)
Less than 15 percent of the U.S. Air Force’s current fighters are stealth aircraft—a relatively small number compared to the People’s Republic of China, which is producing its fifth-generation J-20 fighters in large numbers, fielding integrated air-defense systems, and pursuing long-range strike capabilities. So how does the United States turn the tables against this production juggernaut? By quickly developing and producing, in mass numbers, an uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
AFA recommends the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) authorize $9 billion in funding to develop and deliver 1,000 CCA by the end of Fiscal 2029. Read More →
3. Combat Airpower Modernization and Sustainment
The U.S. Air Force’s fleet is older and smaller than at any point in history. The average age of our aircraft is nearly 30 years old. The Air Force is divesting more aircraft than it’s procuring—a metastasizing threat to our readiness and lethality.
AFA is asking Congress to maximize the procurement of new fighters by purchasing 72 F-35As and 36 F-15EXs during its consideration of the Fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization bill. AFA is also pushing to increase sustainment spending by $658 million to enable the Air Force to modernize existing aircraft. Read More →
4. Acquisition Reform
China has spent years aggressively modernizing its military capabilities with a stated goal of being able to invade Taiwan by 2027. The United States can longer afford to punt modernization. Yet our military’s acquisition process is causing vital weapons systems to be delayed by years, if not decades. The DOD’s acquisition process must be reformed. Read More →