Letter on FY27 Air Force and Space Force Funding

Dear Congressional Leaders:

As the Congress considers how best to fund our national security priorities through the authorization, appropriations, and reconciliation process, the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA)—on behalf of its 350,000 Members—respectfully urges Congress, regardless of the legislative mechanisms ultimately employed, to fund the following critical Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 initiatives at no less than the combined discretionary and mandatory funding levels contained in the President’s Budget Request. These investments are essential to rebuilding combat capacity, ensuring the Space Force is prepared to fight and win in an increasingly contested domain, and sustaining the Airmen, Guardians, and families upon whom our national security depends.

F-35A

• The People’s Liberation Army Air Force is reportedly seeking to produce approximately 120 J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighters annually, with the goal of fielding 1,000 fifth-generation aircraft by 2030. By contrast, last year, the Air Force procured just 24 F-35As in FY 2026. The F-35A is the only Western fifth-generation stealth fighter in production.

• To begin closing this widening capability gap, Congress should retain in the final FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) the F-35A multiyear procurement authorities contained in Section 162 of the House bill and Section 132 of the Senate bill and ensure the Department of the Air Force can execute those authorities without delay.

• Congress should also fund F-35A production at the maximum executable rate possible, but not less than 60 aircraft per year. At an absolute minimum, Congress should provide the full discretionary and mandatory funding requested in the President’s Budget Request for 38 F-35As.

• Without these authorities and resources, the Air Force will remain unable to rebuild its fighter inventory at the pace required to deter aggression and, if deterrence fails, prevail in a high-end conflict.

U.S. Space Force (USSF)

• China views U.S. dependence on space as an exploitable “Achilles’ heel.” As a recent Mitchell Institute report highlights, “[l]egacy U.S. space systems were premised on a peaceful, non-hostile space domain…. Space is now a warfighting domain, with new and growing threats to space systems.” Meeting this mounting threat is precisely why the President’s Budget Request seeks $71.1 billion for the Space Force in FY 2027.

• The Space Force’s request is divided between discretionary and mandatory funding. As Congress determines whether to provide these resources through regular appropriations, reconciliation, or a combination of the two, there is a significant risk that essential Space Force funding could be omitted, fragmented, or delayed. Full funding is necessary to accelerate the resilient architectures, command and control, missile warning and tracking, and other warfighting capabilities required to operate in a contested space domain. It should also include the approximately $1 billion requested for the construction of four new Space Force operations centers.

• AFA, therefore, urges Congress to enact the full $71.1 billion requested by the Space Force, regardless of the legislative vehicle used to provide it. The Space Force cannot afford delays in fielding the capabilities and infrastructure Guardians need to deter—and, if necessary, defeat—growing threats in space.

Quality of Life for Servicemembers and their Families

• AFA appreciates the sustained leadership of the congressional defense committees in improving the quality of life for service members and their families, particularly Congress’s efforts in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) calculation, to correct persistent deficiencies in military housing, and to ensure access to quality childcare.

• Congress has repeatedly directed the Department to assess and improve the methodology used to calculate BAH, including the accuracy of rental-market data, the adequacy of existing Military Housing Areas, and the housing profiles upon which BAH rates are based. The 14th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation similarly recommended modernization of the BAH methodology. AFA urges the Department to complete this work expeditiously and Congress to act on its findings to ensure BAH more accurately reflects the real cost of adequate housing in local markets.

• Congress must also provide additional resources to construct and renovate military housing. Although the Department of the Air Force has invested $1.6 billion to revitalize dormitories, shortages remain. In 2025, several installations reported dormitory shortfalls on the order of 300 beds; Nellis Air Force Base alone reported a deficit of 590 beds. These shortages are not simply quality-of-life concerns; they directly affect readiness, retention and the ability of Airmen and Guardians to focus on the mission.

• Significant childcare capacity shortfalls remain across the Department of the Air Force. While the Department has programmed new Child Development Centers (CDC) and is expanding community-based childcare options, demand continues to exceed available capacity at numerous installations. AFA urges Congress to fully fund programmed CDC construction and expansion while supporting additional approaches to reduce childcare waitlists and increase access to affordable care.

• AFA, therefore, urges Congress to continue oversight of BAH calculations, support funding for military housing and childcare, with particular attention to eliminating dormitory shortfalls, improving military family housing, and expanding access to childcare. Investing in Airmen, Guardians, and their families is an investment in combat readiness.

As Congress completes the FY 2027 authorization and funding process, AFA urges Congressional Leaders to protect these priorities regardless of the legislative vehicle ultimately used. Rebuilding Air Force combat capacity, accelerating Space Force warfighting capabilities, and caring for the Airmen, Guardians, and families who execute the mission are inseparable elements of military readiness. Fully funding these priorities will strengthen deterrence today while ensuring our Air and Space Forces are prepared to prevail if deterrence fails.

Thank you for your attention to these critical priorities.

Yours truly,