Hall Says Selfridge Runway Supplemental Must Be Done By Early May
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(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/03/2026) (NOVI) – If legislators don't grant the Selfridge Air National Guard Base funding by early May to construct a new runway accommodating the new fighter jets the President assigned to the base last year, House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) doesn't believe the new aircraft will come at all.
"We got to get it done in May, or else we're going to lose this thing potentially, because we're going to miss the timeline of President (Donald) Trump being in office," Hall said. "Trust me, there are people in the Air Force that do not want this to happen. They're waiting for President Trump to leave, and they're going to reverse his decision again."
Hall spoke to members of the press during the Michigan Republican Party's endorsement convention March 28. Part of his interaction with the media was featured on the MIRS Monday Podcast. However, some Democrats, based on insights obtained by MIRS, don't take Hall's deadline seriously, as he initially said the project needed to be done by the start of the House's legislative spring break on March 19.
Some even suggest that Hall present “proof” of a deadline beyond him describing phone calls, cautious of falling for a possible bluff after the state of Michigan and the National Guard Bureau have already been working on relocating the base's primary runway northward. In April of last year, the project awarded contracts for the design and environmental assessment as needed by the National Environmental Policy Act.
On March 3, the House passed 65-41 a grant worth $152 million for the Macomb County base. Located on the western shore of Lake Saint Clair, about 3,000 full-time civilian and military personnel work at the base as of December 2022.
However, prior to Trump assigning new fighter jets to it, government officials, especially those in Macomb County, had worrisome questions about the base's future economic impact. At the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 – or after Sept. 30, 2027 – the 20 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, or Warthogs, it housed will be completely retired.
Trump assigned the 21 new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets to replace the retiring Warthogs in late April of last year. Originally scheduled to arrive at Selfridge in 2029, Hall said that he and the Governor last October asked the President to move the timeline up to 2028.
"The Air Force secretary called me and said, 'In order to do that, you've got to get this to us in May at the latest.' Then we've got to begin the construction," Hall said. "The key part's the runway. If we delay the runway, it pushes out past Trump, and then we might as well not pay for it because we're on the other timeline that's at risk."
He ruled out having a runway appropriation featured in the new FY '27 state budget legislators are working on, which the Governor wants to have on her desk to sign by June 30, or in 88 days.
Hall said that Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), who represents Selfridge, have to get "on board, because if they push this out past July 1, I don't believe we'll make it, and I think that's the consensus – we won't make it."
Already, the $152 million and the fact that it's not being taken up yet in the Senate are being used to target Hertel, who represents one of Michigan's most competitive swing seats.
In 2022, Hertel won the 12th state Senate seat, which covers the Lake Saint Clair shoreline, by 404 votes. Ahead of that general election more than four years ago, Hertel had raised $572,318 and accepted more than $940,000 in non-cash gifts promoting his candidacy.
His unsuccessful opponent, then-Rep. Pamela Hornberger of Chesterfield, had raised $342,290 and received $1.96 million in non-cash support.
Harrison Township, where Wright resides, is also where Selfridge is located.
"I'm so tired of the Lansing Democrats. What they do is they drag their feet," Wright said on MIRS Monday March 23.
She accused Hertel of wanting to take credit for Selfridge's new aircraft assignment, and because of that, believes he won't pass the House legislation that's by Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica), who's similarly in a Macomb County swing seat.
"If we don't get this done, we're going to lose this opportunity, which brings $850 million into our community," Wright said. "These planes coming over to Selfridge could be in jeopardy if this isn't completed. And we want this done while President Trump is in office, because who knows what's going to happen after that."
Hertel has previously led $63 million in state investments into Selfridge and its runway expansion developments.
“Selfridge has been a priority of mine for the past three budget cycles. I have worked in a bipartisan way to deliver for this critical project,” Hertel said to MIRS. “I remain committed to completing the mission and getting this done as soon as possible, regardless of how much the Speaker wants to play political games.”