Senate lawmakers have approved a report earmarking $61 million for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), which is located at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
The Armed Services Committee authorized the funding as part of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report recently signed by President Trump. Officials noted that the main campus facilities are overcrowded and require modernization to meet present missions.
NASIC has been forced to utilize antiquated World War II era facilities on base and temporary structures, officials said. The action stems from significant total force growth that has outpaced facility growth.
“I am pleased the Senate approved this funding to support the mission of NASIC and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said. “It will provide the necessary funding for 2019 to start the important facility upgrades so that NASIC can continue its important work. I look forward to the president signing this funding into law because these new facilities are critical for NASIC to fulfill its increasingly important intelligence analysis mission for our Air Force and national policymakers.”
Portman visited NASIC in March and August of last year to discuss their recent military construction projects and the need for the new investment.