Senator Ted Budd

We cannot afford to fall behind China's growing next-gen fighter aircraft fleet; that is why Senator Jeanne Shaheen & I introduced a robust package that will accelerate our airpower capabilities, while also retaining our nation’s most elite pilots. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-bill-usaf-fighter-procurement-inventory-requirements/

From the F-35 to next-gen drones, Lockheed Martin delivers cutting-edge capabilities to our warfighters & bolsters the American arsenal. Proud to sign an F-35 for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to support our Marine pilots in North Carolina. Strong industry-government partnerships are needed to accelerate U.S. airpower.

Another $58.8+ million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs have been approved by for Hurricane Helene recovery. Ensuring families who suffered loss of property can rebuild or relocate is critical to help our mountain communities protect themselves against future disasters.

During Military Appreciation Month, we honor and thank the brave men and women in uniform, including so many proud North Carolinians, for their service to our nation. To all our service members, veterans, and military families—thank you for the sacrifices you make every day.

This Small Business Week, we celebrate nearly 1M small businesses powering North Carolina’s economy. From Main Street shops to farms, they create jobs & expand opportunity statewide. Thanks to pro-growth policies, entrepreneurs are keeping more of what they earn & strengthening our communities.

Appreciated meeting with Ambassador Ilyassov to discuss Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords—a meaningful step toward peace and expanded economic partnerships. We also had a productive conversation on strengthening trade ties and expanding critical minerals partnerships.

ICYMI: Check out my recent op-ed in Wall Street Journal Opinion with Senator Jeanne Shaheen, detailing our bipartisan efforts to strengthen American military airpower.

ICYMI: Senators Budd, Shaheen: America’s Air Superiority Is Losing Altitude - U.S. Senator Ted Budd The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed co-authored by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where they made a bipartisan case for urgently strengthening American military airpower, as China increasingly outpaces the U.S. Air....

For too long, U.S. air dominance has been taken for granted—but it isn’t an American birthright. Given China’s advances, it is time for a renewed bipartisan focus on the skies.

America’s Air Superiority Is Losing Altitude China, focused on beating the U.S., is on pace to build the first sixth-generation stealth fighters.