Air Force requests $338.8 billion, 34% increase over last year

The Department of the Air Force requested $338.8 billion for fiscal year 2027, a 34 percent increase over last year, to address readiness shortfalls and modernization needs after 25 years of underfunding relative to GDP.

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Tuesday that the request breaks a long-standing pattern. The fiscal year 2027 President's Budget breaks that pattern with the $338.8 billion request for the Department of the Air Force, a 34 percent increase from last year, Meink said.

The request includes $267.7 billion for the Air Force and $71.1 billion for the Space Force. Ranking Member Chris Coons noted the Department is requesting nearly $100 billion in defense discretionary budget growth, from $257 billion enacted to $351 billion under consideration.

Meink said the request prioritizes foundational readiness, which has been underfunded for decades. Boosting readiness requires increased and stable funding, particularly given the age of many of our platforms, he said. The fiscal 2027 budget request increases our foundational readiness investment by 34 percent, providing the jump needed to truly recover.

The secretary also highlighted a $50 billion facilities maintenance backlog and plans to nearly double investments in military construction and facility sustainment. On munitions, he said the budget leverages existing commercial production capacity and takes full advantage of multiyear procurement for our most critical munitions, totaling 39,000 weapons of all types by fiscal 2033.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said weapon systems sustainment funding would increase to over $24 billion and flying hours to nearly $10 billion.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said the Space Force budget represents a generational opportunity. The fiscal 2027 budget landmark investment of $71.1 billion for the Space Force represents a generational opportunity to position the force to meet the rapidly expanding threats and demands of the nation, Saltzman said. The fiscal 2027 budget boosts our top line by 130 percent and our end strength by 27 percent, he added.

Senators from both parties questioned the administration's decision to split the request between base appropriations and a separate reconciliation package. Chairman Mitch McConnell said core pieces of the President's defense agenda, like multiyear procurement contracts for critical munitions, half of the F-35 program, Golden Dome, and DROME dominance initiatives are all requested as a one-off reconciliation spending, not a full year base appropriations.