ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer encouraged the Michigan Legislature to pass funding for Selfridge Air National Guard Base as the Harrison Township base prepares for a new fighter mission during an event in Macomb County on Monday.

Some lawmakers want to quickly invest $152 million into runway improvements at Selfridge in Macomb County, and the Michigan House and Senate have passed separate measures to that effect. A bill would need to be passed by both chambers for the governor to be able to sign it.

"It's on the Legislature right now to deliver the funding to my desk by the deadline," Whitmer said Monday afternoon, referring to a June 1 deadline.

The Democratic governor, now in her last term, addressed around 400 people, including business professionals and local elected officials, at a luncheon hosted by the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce and Connect Macomb at Assumption Cultural Center in St. Clair Shores. She announced that the state's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is reviewing qualifications for the work at Selfridge.

"And we will follow up soon after June 1 to ensure that we're ready to go," Whitmer said.

Selfridge's A-10 Thunderbolt II and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft will be phased out and will be replaced with a squadron of F-15EX fighters and a squadron of KC-46 tankers. Selfridge is preparing by improving its infrastructure and facilities, which will cost around $1 billion over five to seven years, the base's commander previously said.

The Michigan House earlier this year fast-tracked the approval of a $152 million supplemental spending plan to secure state funding for two runways at Selfridge. House Speaker Matt Hall said at the time that the state funding is meant to expedite federal infrastructure improvements needed to secure a fighter mission at the base before the end of 2028, when President Donald Trump leaves office. Trump announced last year that the base would receive a F-15EX fighter mission.

Whitmer quoted Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, who said that Selfridge has the potential to become a "super base" in the years to come. She said she agrees with Miller.

"Right now, the Legislature has an opportunity to work together to make sure that the state investments needed to secure the project get done," she said.

Whitmer said she was "encouraged" that both chambers of the Legislature included funding for Selfridge in their budgets.

"So I do have an ask of all of you: please make sure your legislators know how important this is that it happens in the next few weeks," she said. "There's just six legislative session days between now and then, and so we can get this done, but everyone's got to work together and get it over the finish line."

Whitmer comments on her future plans

Whitmer addressed the crowd and then did a Q&A session with Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. He asked the governor about her future plans when her second term ends.

"I'm going to take a little break and walk the earth for a bit," she responded, chuckling.

She said she and her family have "been in this" for the better part of 25 years.

"I got a lot of gas in the tank," she said, noting there are a lot of things that may be interesting to do, "but I have not settled on anything."

Whitmer said she wants to make sure she doesn't take her "eye off the job" for the next seven and a half months.

"And then … I'll take that walk and think about what's … next, and I'll let you know when I figure it out," she added.

Whitmer praises Macomb County's defense economy

Whitmer also said that when it comes to innovation and defense manufacturing, "no one does it better than Macomb."

"You've helped position Michigan as the epicenter of defense in the Midwest," she said.

Whitmer noted that the state is home to over 600 aerospace suppliers, more than 25% of which call "Macomb their home."

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(Staff Writer Beth LeBlanc contributed to this story.)

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