Rep. Pfluger Calls for Airpower Prioritization in NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) has been an outspoken leader for airpower prioritization in this year's National Defense Authorization Act.

Earlier this month, Pfluger helped convene a bipartisan roundtable on airpower with Lieutenant General David Deptula, U.S Air Force (retired), and members of the For Country Caucus to discuss today's readiness challenge and the urgent need to invest in American Airpower. 

During the roundtable, Deptula shared his candid insights on rebuilding capacity, modernizing aging aircraft, strengthening readiness, and ensuring the U.S. maintains air superiority for generations to come.

In the same week, Pfluger publicly endorsed Senator Ted Budd and Senator Jeanne Shaheen's package of three airpower bills, and is hopeful to see the package included in this year's final NDAA. 

Pfluger is particularly suited to the legislation considering he is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, former fighter pilot, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, and Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.

Read more about this legislation with a portion of Pfluger's interview with Breaking Defense here. 

Background: 

This advocacy builds on Rep. Pfluger's ongoing advocacy for strengthening our Air Force. 

In April 2026, Rep. Pfluger delivered a forceful call to action before the House Armed Services Committee, urging the committee to make investing in and strengthening the Air Force a top priority in this year's NDAA.

In March 2026, Rep. Pfluger published an op-ed in The Washington Post, highlighting that while our Air Force remains unmatched in capability, it is operating with the oldest aircraft and smallest force in its history.

He also outlined the urgent need to reverse the decades-long trend of underinvestment to ensure the Air Force is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Read the full op-ed here.

In June 2025, Pfluger and Deptula penned an op-ed in The Hill outlining how the spectacular airstrike we witnessed in Iran that successfully destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities should be a wake-up call if we are serious about preparing for sustained conflict with adversaries like China.

In the op-ed, they argued that Congress must invest in U.S. airpower because, to put it simply, we lack the depth to conduct this kind of operation repeatedly, or at scale.

Pfluger also penned an op-ed in Newsweek in June 2025 titled, American Airpower Obliterated Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions—Rightfully So, following the success of Operation Midnight Hammer. Read the full op-ed here.

To continue the conversation and his advocacy for airpower, Pfluger will join Deptula in person Tuesday, June 2, for the Aerospace Nation Podcast with the Mitchell Institute. The conversation will be livestreamed, and you can tune in by RSVPing here.