Lankford Issues Statement Supporting National Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted to support the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA), which supports Oklahoma’s military installations, prioritizes our national defense, and strengthens our partnerships with allies abroad.

“Today, I voted to put America’s servicemen and women first by supporting the National Defense Authorization Act. I worked to include key provisions in this bill that will not only support our service members in Oklahoma but also military families across the nation. Members of the armed forces put their lives on the line to defend our nation. I will continue to stand strong to make sure they have the funding, support, and equipment they need to succeed,” said Lankford.

Lankford spearheaded additional provisions in this bill to support intelligence community spouses and require the State Department to develop a comprehensive strategy to promote internet freedom in Iran. 

Lankford specifically fought for provisions in the defense bill that would impact the Oklahoma military community. The FY25 NDAA will:

• Provide authority for the Department of Defense to extract natural gas on McAlester Army Ammunition Plant for energy resilience purposes.
• Require the Air Force to maintain 16 E–3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft until the Department of Defense can bring more E-7 Wedgetails online or close the capability gap—a mission belonging to the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base.

Lankford also supported additional funding for vital programs and projects at Oklahoma’s military installations. The FY25 NDAA will:

• Authorize funding to give all service members a pay raise, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members (E1-E4) and a 4.5% pay raise for all other servicemembers.
• Extend direct hire authority until 2030 for domestic industrial base facilities and Major Range and Test Facilities, which supports Tinker Air Force Base and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. 
• Authorize $29 million for the National Guard Readiness Center in Shawnee.
• Authorize $74 million for McAlester Army Ammunition Plant’s ammunition demolition facility. 
• Authorize funding for the E-3, B-21, KC-46A, T-6, T-1, T-38, T-7A pilot training, Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) modernization, critical munitions, general purpose bombs, air and missile defense, and long-range precision fires—all of which directly impact the mission at Oklahoma military installations.
• Include $400 million in additional funds to accelerate the E-7 Wedgetail, which will replace the E-3 AWACS at Tinker Air Force Base.
• Require a plan for sustainment and recapitalization of all 25 Air National Guard fighter squadrons, which will support the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa. 
• Authorize government-owned, government-operated facilities such as McAlester Army Ammunition Plant to access production base support funds. 

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