Continuous Advocacy
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. Recapitalize and Enhance the Readiness of the U.S. Air Force
The Department of Defense’s 2025 Annual Report to Congress states, “China’s top military strategy focuses squarely on overcoming the United States through a whole-of-nation mobilization effort that Beijing terms ‘national total war.” Toward that objective, China is estimated to be producing 120 J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighters a year, with a goal to acquire 1,000 by 2030.
For the United States to keep pace with this growing threat, Congress must renew its commitment to recapitalizing and enhancing the readiness of our Air Force. Accordingly, AFA has outlined recommendations on recapitalization and enhancing readiness, which are based upon numerous studies over the past several years. Read More →
2. Increase the U.S. Space Force’s Resources
AFA resolutely supports proposals discussed at our 2026 Warfare Symposium to double the personnel strength and total budget of the service. Toward that objective, we recommends the congressional defense committees in Fiscal Year 2027: 1) authorize an increase in personnel strength of the service by 1,500 positions, whether military, civilian or contractor; 2) increase the amount spent on improving infrastructure by $1.7 billion and military construction by $500 million; and 3) authorize the service’s total budget of $47.2 billion. Read More →
3. Optimize the Management Structure for the Development of CJADC2
AFA requests the congressional defense committees direct the Department to conduct a study which evaluates the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) current management structure and recommends the optimal configuration to ensure this system of systems is deployed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Read More →
4. Ensure Adequate Housing for Airmen, Guardians, and their Families
Congress’s relentless efforts to address deficiencies in military housing are but one example of their dedication to improve the quality of life of our service members and their families. This includes the committee’s authorization of studies to identify improvements to the way the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and the cost-of-living adjustments are calculated to ensure more stable and consistent results.
AFA fully supports the prompt completion of these reports so their recommendations may be considered for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In addition, AFA also requests additional resources be allocated for the construction of additional Department of the Air Force (DAF) military housing. Read More →
Additional Areas of Focus
1. Strengthen Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Authorities, Coordination, and Investment
Our military faces a rapidly growing threat from unmanned aerial systems (UAS). However, current legal authorities, funding, and coordination mechanisms are insufficient to fully protect our personnel, infrastructure, and operations. AFA recommends the Department of Defense identify statutory and regulatory changes which will better enable our forces to defeat this threat at both domestic and international military installations. In addition, the DOD should increase funding and standardize the procurement of counter-UAS systems across the Department.
2. Evaluate Air Force Responsibility for Base Defense Against Emerging Threats
Rapid advances in drone and missile threats have exposed potential gaps in current base defense strategies, which rely heavily on Army-provided air and missile defense capabilities. Therefore, AFA recommends a formal evaluation be conducted of whether the Air Force or another service should assume greater responsibility for defending bases against drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic missiles. As well as identify and dedicate sufficient financial resources to meet this threat.
3. Fund the Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC)
To meet the requirements of our national defense strategies, it is essential the Department of Defense continue to recruit and train the next generation of experts in “acquisition, digital technologies, critical technologies, finance, science, [and] engineering.” Therefore, AFA strongly recommends the DOD continue to fund and build upon the success of the DCTC.
Last updated March 2026.