SCHUMER SECURES $54 MILLION AUTHORIZATION IN SENATE NATIONAL DEFENSE BILL FOR NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION TO BUILD NEW COMBINED OPERATIONS ALERT FACILITY; SENATOR LAUNCHES PUSH TO DELIVER $$$ IN FINAL APPROPRIATIONS TO LAND MUCH-NEEDED NEW FACILITY IN WESTERN NY
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Is Critical Base For Air Force In Western NY, But Current Operations Are Spread Across Multiple Facilities, Wasting Energy & Degrading Command & Control & NFARS Has Lacked Funding To Build New Combined Facility
After Months Of Work, Schumer Just Secured New $54M Authorization For Project In The FY 2026 Senate NDAA; Senator Says Now House Needs To Back Funding, Too; Schumer Is Pushing To Deliver $$ For New Centralized Facility In The Next Defense Appropriations Bill
Schumer: We Are A Major Step Closer To A New Combined Operations Alert Facility For The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station!
Following months of advocacy, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced he has secured a $54 million authorization in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 in a major step forward to building a new Combined Operations Alert Facility (COAF) at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS).
The senator has been advocating for a new COAF to provide the station with more effective command and control, improved cohesion between squadrons, improved mission response times, and streamlined communications. Currently, support functions for the 914th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) are distributed across multiple stovepiped and outdated facilities at NFARS, adding unnecessary burden and mission load. Schumer underscored that centralizing operations has been a major priority for NFARS.
“Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the 914th Air Refueling Wing has continuously delivered for New York and America’s strategic deterrence over the last 50 years, but to best fulfill its mission going forward it needs a new facility to centralize its command & control operations and improve communication across squadrons. Today, we take a major step towards bringing a new Combined Operations Alert Facility to life. I am proud to announce I just secured the long desired federal funding authorization of $54 million to build a new NFARS Combined Operations Alert Facility in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act,” said Senator Schumer. “NFARS is one of Niagara County’s top employers and it needs continued federal investment to keep this facility in top notch shape. This is a major step forward to improving efficiency and upgrading operations at NFARS, which is why we need the House to follow suit as we continue efforts to deliver this funding. I will continue to fight tooth and nail to secure funding in appropriations to get dollars through the door and shovels in the ground for this new facility for the Niagara Falls Reserve Station and all the hardworking men and women in Niagara County.”
Schumer explained, “With 914th ARW command and control operations and support functions currently spread across multiple facilities, wasting energy and degrading communications, securing this $54 million authorization in the Senate is a massive step forward in the push to build a new facility to consolidate alert operations across key units and support functions.”
The senator said the House needs to follow suit backing this authorization as the he fights to deliver funding in the next defense appropriations bill. Schumer previously secured $2.8 million in federal funding for the design and planning of the COAF in FY 2023.
Schumer has long fought for greater federal investment into NFARS. Schumer has visited NFARS many times, including in 2017, when he worked with Air Force and National Guard officials to secure funding for a new training facility, building on the structures already in place at NFARS. Also in 2017, Schumer announced after his advocacy that the base would receive eight KC-135 aircraft, which brought nearly $25 million in investment, jobs and increased flight hours.
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