Leaders of the Air National Guard have sent a letter to Congress warning that the United States Air Force is in its most precarious state in nearly eight decades, requesting significant new funding for fighter jets to address what they call historic readiness shortfalls.
The letter, obtained by Air and Space Forces Magazine, was signed by all 22 adjutants generals who lead Air National Guard units across the states. The document marks what Idaho's assistant adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Shannon Smith, called a rare unified message from the two-star generals who command National Guard forces in their respective states.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive defense analysts and Democratic lawmakers have long raised concerns about military readiness under successive administrations, and some see the National Guard letter as validation of warnings they have issued for years. Progressives have emphasized that chronic underfunding and repeated continuing resolutions have degraded the force, arguing that years of deferred procurement created the current shortfall.
The left has also pointed to the human cost of operating older aircraft, noting that maintainers and pilots face increased physical and mental strain when working with aging jets. Some Democratic members of Congress have argued that any new defense spending must be paired with investments in housing, healthcare, and family support services for service members.
Additionally, progressive voices have questioned whether the requested procurement numbers are sufficient, noting that even the higher end of the request — 72 F-35s and 36 F-15EXs annually — represents a fraction of the total fleet that would need replacement over the coming decade. They have called for comprehensive lifecycle management plans rather than one-time procurement bumps.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative defense hawks have welcomed the National Guard's push for increased fighter jet procurement, with many arguing that the request is long overdue. Republicans have emphasized that a diminished Air Force undermines American deterrence posture, particularly in the Pacific and Middle East.
Some conservative commentators have placed blame for the current state of affairs on what they characterize as years of insufficient defense budgets under previous administrations. They have argued that the Pentagon's budget caps and the use of continuing resolutions have prevented proper force planning.
The right has also highlighted the operational context cited in the letter — the ongoing campaign against Iran dubbed Operation Epic Fury — arguing that American airpower is being stretched thin globally. Conservative defense leaders have called for robust procurement as a matter of national security, urging Congress to approve the full request without conditions.
What the Numbers Show
The letter from National Guard leaders requests between 72 and 100 new fighter jets annually. The minimum request calls for 48 F-35s and 24 F-15EXs per year, while the desired goal is 72 F-35s and 36 F-15EXs annually.
By comparison, the Air Force's recent procurement requests have been significantly lower. In 2024, the service asked for 48 F-35s, and in 2025, that request dropped to 42. For the F-15EX, the Air Force requested 24 in 2024 and just 18 in 2025.
President Trump's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget requests $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon, representing a near $700 billion increase from the 2026 allocation.
The Air Force's current fleet includes many aircraft dating back to the 1970s. According to the letter, maintaining these aging jets consumes most of the funding that would otherwise go toward modernization, with maintainers reporting increasing difficulty keeping aircraft operational.
The Bottom Line
The unified message from all 22 Air National Guard adjutants generals represents an unusual consensus among state-level military leaders, lending weight to their warning about force readiness. The letter arrives as Congress debates defense spending amid a proposed Pentagon budget that would represent a substantial increase.
The request faces competing priorities within the defense budget, and Congress will ultimately determine whether to approve funding closer to the Air Force's modest recent asks or the National Guard's higher request. The outcome will shape whether the service can begin replacing aging aircraft or continue maintaining a fleet that leaders say is at historic lows in both size and readiness.
What to watch: Congressional defense committee hearings on the FY2027 budget, where members will question service leaders about fleet composition, maintenance costs, and operational tempo. The Pentagon has not yet responded publicly to the National Guard letter.