Senator Chuck Schumer announced on Thursday that he has secured a $54 million federal authorization to build a new Combined Operations Alert Facility (COAF) at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, a long-sought upgrade for one of Western New York’s critical military installations.
The funding, included in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, marks a major milestone in the effort to streamline and modernize command and control functions for the 914th Air Refueling Wing. Currently, key operations are spread across outdated and inefficient buildings.
“Today, we take a major step towards bringing a new Combined Operations Alert Facility to life,” Schumer said. “I am proud to announce I just secured the long desired federal funding authorization of $54 million.”
Schumer emphasized that the scattered structure of the base’s operations has burdened personnel and degraded response capability. A centralized facility, he said, would improve efficiency, communication, and mission readiness.
“This is a major step forward to improving efficiency and upgrading operations at NFARS, which is why we need the House to follow suit,” Schumer added.
NFARS, a key employer in Niagara County, has played a vital role in national defense for more than 50 years. The base is home to the 914th Air Refueling Wing, which supports critical air mobility and refueling missions.
In 2023, Schumer secured $2.8 million to design the new COAF. His latest move builds on prior efforts to expand and modernize the base. In 2017, Schumer successfully advocated for eight KC-135 aircraft to be assigned to the station, bringing an estimated $25 million in investment and jobs.
“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… is a massive step forward,” Schumer said.
He now urges the House of Representatives to approve the funding and pledged to push for its inclusion in the upcoming defense appropriations bill.
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