Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a video statement touting his provision that fully prohibits the Air Force from divesting F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
Senator Budd, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, secured the provision in the Senate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that fully prohibits the Air Force from divesting F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base through 2029.
WATCH FULL VIDEO BELOW:
Senator Budd said:
I’d like to share some great news for our state and the good folks in the Goldsboro community. I was able to secure a provision in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act that fully protects F-15E Strike Eagles at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base through 2029.
The Air Force plans to eliminate 26 Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson next year. This decision would harm our national security and hurt the Goldsboro and Wayne County community.
Remember, aircraft from North Carolina’s 335th Fighter Squadron helped defend Israel by shooting down dozens of drones and missiles from Iran earlier this year. And the F-15Es have received praise from our country’s top military leaders. They have called Strike Eagles phenomenal, very capable, and critical for scenarios in the Indo-Pacific.
I am thrilled that my colleagues agreed with me that eliminating these aircraft was a misguided decision by the Air Force. I’ll continue to fight to ensure that the future of Seymour Johnson is bright.
North Carolina is the proud home of eight military installations, and I am proud to represent the men and women in uniform who call our state home. I will continue to work as hard as I can to deliver wins to keep the United States of America a strong nation for decades to come.
Background:
The Air Force plans to divest 26 Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson next year, even though aircraft from North Carolina’s 335th Fighter Squadron helped defend Israel by shooting down dozens of drones and missiles from Iran in April. Additionally, these Strike Eagles have more than half their service life remaining and recently received multi-million dollar upgrades to their radars and avionics.
Several top military officials have praised the F-15E after being questioned by Senator Budd in committee hearings. Strike Eagles were called phenomenal, very capable, and critical for scenarios in the Indo-Pacific.
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