WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) – a U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) graduate, battle-tested fighter pilot, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, and Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors – joined U.S Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula (retired) on the Mitchell Institute's Aerospace Nation livestream for a wide-ranging discussion on America's national security challenges and defense priorities.
A central theme was abundantly clear throughout the conversation: strengthening and investing in American Airpower must remain a top priority in this year's defense budget and for years to come. Both leaders stressed that rebuilding the Air Force will require sustained, long-term investment, noting that while this year's proposed single-year funding increase is a step in the right direction, it will not reverse the decades of underinvestment in the Department of the Air Force. As Rep. Pfluger has said, he wants to see recapitalization and a plan to build the force based on threat, not the budget topline.
Watch the full conversation here or by clicking the image below.
The conversation was covered in the Air & Space Forces Magazine. Read more about it here or by clicking the image below.
Background:
This advocacy builds on Rep. Pfluger's ongoing leadership in advocating 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 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In May 2026, Rep. Pfluger continued his leadership, helping 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, General 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, Rep. Pfluger publicly endorsed Senator Budd and Senator Shaheen's package of three Airpower bills and is hopeful the package will be included in this year's final NDAA. Read more about this legislation and a portion of Rep. Pfluger's interview with Breaking Defense here.
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 currently the oldest and smallest it has ever been. 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, Rep. Pfluger and Lt. General David Deptula penned an op-ed in The Hill outlining how the spectacular airstrike we witnessed in Iran 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.
Rep. Pfluger also penned an op-ed in Newsweek in June 2025 titled, American Airpower Obliterated Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions—Rightfully So, following the spectacular success of Operation Midnight Hammer. Read the full op-ed here.
