Congressman Don Davis Votes for NDAA to Stop Job Cuts at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Pay Our Troops

Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) issued the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a margin of 281 to 140. H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Authorization Act of 2025 includes a provision prohibiting the Air Force from divesting F-15E Strike Eagles. The legislation would prevent the eliminating of 520 jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Wayne County, one of North Carolina’s most economically distressed areas.

“The NDAA saves Seymour Johnson Air Force Base from hundreds of job cuts and puts more money into the hands of our junior enlisted, helping many who are experiencing food insecurity and relying on food stamps while safeguarding the American people,” said Congressman Don Davis. “The fight isn’t over. By pushing off the retirement of F-15E aircraft until 2027, we have more time to achieve a long-term solution and continue prioritizing economic stability for Wayne County and eastern North Carolina.”

The NDAA also contains an authorizing provision supporting $41 million to construct a Combat Arms Training & Maintenance Complex that Congressman Davis requested after visiting the base. “To the 4th Fighter Wing and Wayne County: I see you, hear you, and will stay in this fight with you,” Davis added.

“As a member of the House Armed Services Quality of Life Panel, I am glad to see that we are taking care of our junior enlisted and their families by passing a 14.5% pay raise. Moving forward, Congress must take every step necessary to address the cost of living challenges our troops face every day,” Davis concluded.

Other Key Provisions of the NDAA for FY 2025 include: 

• $1.8 billion for procurement of an additional 18 F-15EX aircraft
• $500 million for the Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Programs, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense systems, and $200 million for international security cooperation with Taiwan
• A 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members (E-4 and below) and a 4.5% basic pay increase for all other servicemembers
• Requires reevaluation of the current calculation methods for Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) to a realistic allowance for service members’ meals
• Raises the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) threshold to 200% of federal poverty guidelines

Congressman Don Davis secured 16 amendments to the NDAA for FY 2025:

• Prohibits F-15E divestment through at least FY 2027, with minimal exceptions for the retirement of aircraft that are no longer operable
• Authorizes funding for a Combat Arms Training & Maintenance (CATM) Complex at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
• Allows up to nine Service Academy graduates per year to fulfill their Active-Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) in the selected reserves as a recruiting officer if they are drafted as a professional athlete
• Authorizes additional funding for Longshot Munitions Technology Development
• Authorizes a pilot program for studying AI in Marine Corps supply chain logistics operations
• Authorizes a pilot program for combat training centers
• Requires a report on Implications of Continuing Resolutions and Government Shutdowns on Shipbuilding Efforts
• Requires a report on human performance policies to optimize the readiness of military personnel
• Requires a study of the utility of new army-load-carrying technology for U.S. Army personnel
• Requires a report on National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy Implementation
• Requires a report on the effectiveness of emerging weapons systems like the conventional extensible warhead
• Requires a report on strategies to identify, develop, and procure ground robotic autonomous systems, including at Camp Lejeune
• Requires regular reporting on the Postsecondary Education Complaint System (PECS)
• Requires a report on innovative treatments for acute and chronic vascular trauma
• Requires a report on Military Base Flood Mapping to mitigate flood damage at military installations
• Authorizes an additional $5 million for advanced military base security to guard against cyber and perimeter security breaches

Timeline of Action on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base:

• On November 20, 2023, Congressman Davis toured Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB) during an official Congressional Delegation visit to deepen his understanding of the operations and challenges of SJAFB and to express unwavering support for the brave men and women in uniform.
• On March 13, 2024, Congressman Davis delivered remarks on the House Floor regarding plans by the Air Force to divest a combat squadron and strip away 520 jobs at SJAFB. A Full Video of Congressman Davis’ speech on the House Floor is here.
• On April 2, 2024, Congressman Davis sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the Administration not to divest an F-15E aircraft fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (SJAFB) in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Read the full letter here. 
• On April 17, 2024, Congressman Davis questioned the Secretary of the Air Force on what communication he or his team had had with the local community, what the economic impact of divestment would be, and whether the Air Force planned to deliver the late report on force structure decisions.
• On May 13, 2024, Congressman Davis announced a provision prohibiting the retirement of F-15E aircraft, including the combat squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, targeted for divestment.

Military installations in eastern North Carolina include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the United States Coast Guard—Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Fort Liberty. 

Congressman Don Davis is a 1994 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is the Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Readiness.